Probiotics
Live bacterial strains in capsules or powder, whose effect differs per strain and per complaint.
What the research shows
Mixed or small evidence. The effect is uncertain.
The Cochrane review by Guo (2019) saw roughly a halving of diarrhoea in children taking antibiotics, mainly at higher doses. Goodoory (2023) found improvement in IBS for a few specific combinations, with many trials at high risk of bias. Wallace (2023) saw a possible effect on abdominal pain in children, with low certainty.
Who it makes sense for: People with a specific complaint who use a strain studied for exactly that, such as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea or IBS.
How we weigh evidenceClinical dosage
Scientific sources
The clinical dosages on this page are based on peer-reviewed research.
- Probiotics for the prevention of pediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhea.Guo Q et al. (2019)
- Efficacy of Probiotics in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Goodoory VC et al. (2023)
- Probiotics for management of functional abdominal pain disorders in children.Wallace C et al. (2023)
We keep the dosages and values on this page as accurate as possible based on selected studies. New research may change these values. Nothing on this page is medical advice. If you have any doubts, always consult a doctor.