Probiotic supplements have been the talk of the wellness industry for quite some time now, with many medical expert testifying to the beneficial effects such microorganisms have on the body. In fact, their usage stretches back several centuries as they have long been regarded as helping with weight loss. Looking more to the future, the global probiotic market is predicted to be worth US$74.3 in terms of annual sales by 2025, with Asia being very much the driver of that growth.

Despite this, there remains much general uncertainty as to what exactly constitutes ‘probiotics’. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit, US-based academic medical centre, they consist of “good live bacteria and / or yeasts that naturally live in the body”. Harvard Health Publishing, the publishing division of the Harvard Medical School, meanwhile, defines them thus: “Mostly found within the large intestine and colon, these groups of micro-biota help absorb nutrients from food, improve immune function, protect the gut from intestinal infections and even regulate emotions”.
There is also a large body of studies that show certain strains of probiotics can reduce infectious diarrhea, inflammation and insulin levels, while contributing to weight loss. They have also been linked to easing the symptoms of diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

More intriguing data came from an eight-week study conducted by the Maryland-based National Library of Medicine. This indicated that those test-subjects taking probiotics were notably less depressed than a control group given only placebos.
It is not, however, all good news. Though probiotic supplements are generally safe-to-consume, they do pose some risks and there is the chance of side effects. This is especially the case for those with weak immune systems or who are suffering from certain chronic illnesses, such as cancer.

Some people may, for instance. have a negative reaction to a particular probiotic ingredient. There’s also a chance that, as our bodies and daily diets already contain a number of probiotic variants, the addition of superfluous supplements is likely to trigger bloating, constipation or excessive amounts of gas.

There are, in fact, thousands of strains of bacteria and the amount and type of micro-biome pre-existing in any one body varies from person to person. As a result, there is no real consensus as what exactly constitutes a healthy micro-biome. It is perhaps surprising that this uncertainty exists given the long heritage of the practice. Although such supplements constitute a notably rising trend in the probiotic market, the health benefits of these microbial species were first determined countless millennia ago as the more astute members of classical civilisations observed the process of food fermentation.

For their part, the Chinese have been using fermentation to preserve vegetables for more than 6,000 years, while the Egyptians of classic times were said to ferment milk products to treat gastroenteritis. In fact, no less an ancient A-lister than Hippocrates, the Greek physician, maintained that, as all diseases began in the gut, fermented milk had the potential to cure all such disorders.

Many of the currently available fermented foods, such as yogurt, kombucha, kimchi and sauerkraut, are known to contain lactobacillus, a probiotic strain that helps with infectious diarrhea. Other probiotic foods, meanwhile, such as granola bars, protein shakes and fruit juice, typically contain bifibacterium, which both aids the digestion of fiber and produces vitamins.

Overall, while there is consensus that beneficial micro-organisms can play an important role in our health, research into probiotic supplements is still relatively new, stretching back just 20 years or so. As a result, many nutritionists are erring on the side of caution and advocating that a healthy, balanced diet remain the optimum way of nurturing good bacteria within the body. In certain instances though – such as individuals who are lactose intolerant, have a restricted diet or favour low-fibre and restricted carbohydrate regimes – it is already being conceded that supplements have a lot to offer.