EXCELLENT(and semi-bleak) @AGA_Gastro commentary on probiotics

Probiotics are...

Misunderstood
Over-hyped
Under-studied
Mis-regulated

BUT (if done right) have lots of potential

Article highlights (1/8)
#GItwitter
@rabritton @AmerGastroAssn https://twitter.com/amergastroassn/status/1278394199998685184

2/8
Probiotics come with BIG promises

BUT Prob Almost ZERO high-quality human trials

Prob Strain matters

Some Ecoli are good
Some Ecoli are bad
Same species not = same function

Strain not always advertised in probiotics

Makes systematic reviews V hard

3/8
Your gut bacteria are a stable little family

They may be toxic like some Thxgiving dinners

But they’re family NONETHELESS and stick together, in their own complicated way

And like some boyfriends you brought home for the holidays, most probiotics WONT LAST

4/8 Prob

You are a unique little snowflake

And so is your gut

You have different flora than your neighbor!

Probiotics interact (prob a lot) with your native bacteria

So why would it be one size fits all?

5/8
And let me throw some political drama in the mix (Prob )

Probiotics are regulated as a FOOD (yum yum), not a DRUG

So no need to
specify strain
specify AMOUNT of bacteria per pill
submit validation of label claims to FDA
run rigorous clinical trials

6/8
It costs > $2 billion and 10 years to get a drug to market

So why would probiotic makers go thru that?

ESP when, as a food/diet supp, they are allowed to make vague claims like “improves digestion”

7/8
Ok ok ok

Before the probiotic mafia comes to my house and makes me eat yogurt

Great @AGA_Gastro review on probiotics found mod-to-high evidence that certain probiotics prevent necrotizing enterocolitis! https://twitter.com/trott_nick/status/1290626968392740864

8/8
IF WE CAN

use fancy tools to ID the specific microbial/function deficits of an individual or narrow dz phenotype

create bacterial consortium that play well w the complex environ of your native bugs

actually test them

Probiotics may have a future

Fin