How to Choose the Right Probiotics
Are you wondering how to use probiotics for your digestive health? Look no further, as a trusted group of experts has created an evidence-based guide on probiotic products available in Canada that can support you in your care.
Probiotics are specific strains and quantities of bacteria that research shows to be effective for overall gut health or in treating specific conditions. Probiotics can help offer varied symptom relief for several conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), post-antibiotic diarrhea, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Evidence continues to grow on other ways we can use them as supportive therapies for several diseases and disorders.
Probiotics are typically available as supplements and you can also purchase functional foods with added probiotics. This is not the same as fermented foods, since the strains of bacteria fermented foods carry can vary and might not be active by the time they reach your intestinal tract. Eating fermented foods is a less reliable way of increasing the beneficial bacteria in your gut than taking supplements.
The Alliance for Education on Probiotics (AEProbio) is an international collaboration of doctors, researchers, and scientists working together to promote the clinical use of probiotics for better health outcomes. Each year, they conduct an unbiased review of the available scientific evidence on probiotics to update the Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products Available in Canada.1 Now in its 14th edition, the purpose of the guide is to assist healthcare professionals with clinical decision-making when they recommend probiotic therapy for patients. It is also a useful tool for individuals who would like to incorporate probiotics into their care plan.
The guide is easy to use as it organizes probiotics into five categories: digestive and liver health for adults, general health for adults for non-gut related indications, maternal and vaginal health for women, pediatric health, and functional foods. It also indicates if a product requires refrigeration, if it is gluten-free, and if its listed health benefits have received Health Canada approval.
The Review Process
AEProbio compiled this resource by conducting a systematic literature review of studies on specific probiotic strains with defined clinical outcomes. There must be a connection between specific formulations, including genus, species, and non-active ingredients, in the context of its clinical evidence. They only observe products that are available in Canada. Probiotic strains must also have Health Canada approval and/or have safe status recognition from the US Food and Drug Administration, as well as the support of published literature. If a product has multiple strains, the evidence must validate the specific combination. They do not allow for the extrapolation of evidence. Independent expert reviewers then analyzed the compiled data, and a list of references is available at the end of the guide. They update this resource each year to ensure that products are still sold in Canada and that it is up-to-date with the latest research. The guide is not a clinical practice guideline or an endorsement for companies.
The guide is available in English and French. They have also created a US version. You can access it online, in downloadable PDFs, and on the Apple store and Google Play at aeprobio.com. Their website also contains further resources on probiotics, including videos, handouts, and webinars.
Your ideal probiotic therapy will depend on your medical history, diet, lifestyle, and other factors. Consult your doctor for more information.