A list of probiotics types, their benefits and their source products found in the market.
Probiotics are living microorganisms (bacteria) that when consumed are suggested to give health benefits to the human host. Before coining the term 'probiotics', use of probiotics in food products, e.g., fermented milk products, is an old practice.
First scientific records of observations of their use dates back to the 1800's. Identification of probiotic bacteria types and understanding of their benefits and mechanisms, however, is a recent trend and an actively growing endevour.
Regarding the claims of health benefits of probiotics, there are some studies that show evidence supporting the benefits and there are other studies that find no evidence of the claimed health benefits.
There is now an increasing number of probiotics food sources and products in grocery stores that are marketed for prevention and treatment of various ailements. The probiotics products include food, like yoghurt, cheese, nutritional bars. They are also marketed in cosmetic products and pills.
A recent publication, in the journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases, by a researcher at the University of Washington, Seattle, summarises some of the probiotics types, their benefits and in what products they are found in the market. The summary is based on review of 420 published trials conducted in the last 40 years.
Probiotic type | Product source | Brand Name (Manufacturer) | Benefits for |
---|---|---|---|
Single probiotic types | |||
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis DN-173010 | Yogurt | Activia (Danone) | Constipation |
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bb-12 | Capsules, powder in sticks, fermented milk | BB-12 (Chr Hansen) | Eczema |
Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 | Drink, capsules | Align (Procter & Gamble) | irritable bowel syndrome |
Clostridium butyricum 588 | Tablets, drink | MIYA-BM (Miyarisan Pharm) | antibiotic-associated diarrhea Helicobacter pylori infection |
Enterococcus faecium SF 68 | Powder, sachets | Bioflorin (Cerbios-Pharma) | Acute adult diarrhea |
Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 | Capsules | Mutaflor (Ardeypharm) | No trends |
Lactobacillus acidophilus Lb | Sachets, capsules | Lacteol (PUMC Pharm) | Acute pediatric diarrhea |
Lactobacillus casei subsp Shirota | Fermented milk | Yakult (Yakult) | Constipation, Helicobacter pylori infection |
Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 | Fermented drink, yogurt | Actimel, DanActive (Danone) | antibiotic-associated diarrhea, prevention of pediatric diarrhea, respiratory infections |
Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35 | Vaginal capsules | Gynophilus | bacterial vaginosis |
Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 | Milk | NC1 (Nestle) | Helicobacter pylori infections |
Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (DSM9843) | Fermented oat gruel in fruit drink, capsules | ProViva (Probi) Darolac-irritable bowel syndrome (Araisto) |
irritable bowel syndrome, Clostridium difficile infection |
Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 | Capsules, yogurt | Protectis (BioGaia) | Acute pediatric diarrhea, cholesterol |
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53013) | Yogurt, capsules | Culturelle (Amerifit Brands) Vifit (Valio) |
Acute pediatric diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea |
Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 (lyo) | Capsules | Florastor, Codex, UltraLevure (Biocodex) | antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Clostridium difficile infection, acute adult and pediatric diarrhea, traveler's diarrhea, Helicobacter pylori infections |
Mixtures of probiotic bacteria | |||
Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285 + Lactobacillus casei Lbc80r + Lactobacillus rhamnosus CLR2 |
Fermented drink, capsules | Bio K+ (BioK+ Intl) | antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Clostridium difficile infection |
Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 (CNCM I-1722) + Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011 (CNCM I-1720) |
Capsules, sachets | Lacidofil (Lallemand) A'Biotica (Institut Rosell) |
Helicobacter pylori infection, antibiotic-associated diarrhea |
Lactobacillus helveticus (bulgaricus) 4962 + Lactobacillus acidophilus | Capsules | Lactinex (BD Diagnostics) |
Acute adult diarrhea |
Lactobacillus reuteri DSM17938 + Lactobacillus reuteri PTA5289 | Lozenges, powder, capsules | Prodentis (BioGaia) | Dental infections |
Lactobacillus acidophilus + Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis | Yogurt | AB Yogurt | Improves normal flora |
Lactobacillus acidophilus + Bifidobacterium bifidum | Capsules | Infloran Berna (Intituo Sieroterapico) | Respiratory tract infections |
Lactobacillus acidophilus subsp gasseri + Bifidobacterium infantis | Capsules | Linex (Sandoz) | antibiotic-associated diarrhea |
Bacillus clausii (4 strains: O/C, N/R84, T84, Sin8) | Capsules, spores in vial | Enterogermina (Sanofi-Aventis) | Antidiarrheal |
Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus | Sachets | VSL#3 (Sigma-Tau Pharm Inc) | irritable bowel syndrome ulcerative colitis |
Source:
Lynne V. McFarland (2015). From Yaks to Yogurt: The History, Development, and Current Use of Probiotics. Clinical Infectious Diseases, Vol. 60(Issue suppl 2):S85-S90.
Jotham Suez, Niv Zmora, Eran Segal & Eran Elinav (2019). The pros, cons, and many unknowns of probiotics. Nature Medicine 25, 716–729.