ProVen Probiotics Adult Acidophilus & Bifidus – 25 Billion is a high-strength friendly bacteria supplement for everyday use for adults aged 16+. Supported by a unique body of UK-based clinical research, the Lab4 live bacteria in ProVen Adult 25 Billion is the most comprehensively studied group of friendly bacteria in the UK. Overall, the available evidence indicates that probiotics might reduce some symptoms of IBS. However additional high-quality clinical trials are needed to confirm the specific strain, dose, and duration of treatment required as well as the type of IBS (such as with predominant diarrhea or constipation) that can be treated effectively with probiotics. Hypercholesterolemia

Probiotics - Health Professional Fact Sheet Probiotics - Health Professional Fact Sheet

Bile salt hydrolase activity, which increases the need for new bile acids and thus reduces serum cholesterol levels [ 50-52] Allen SJ, Martinez EG, Gregorio GV, Dans LF. Probiotics for treating acute infectious diarrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010:CD003048. [ PubMed abstract] In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 RCTs in a total of 4,780 participants, treatment with Saccharomyces boulardii compared with placebo or no treatment reduced the risk of AAD in 3,114 adults treated with antibiotics from 17.4% to 8.2% [ 29]. In the 1,653 children in this study, Saccharomyces boulardii reduced the risk from 20.9% to 8.8%. Various doses of Saccharomyces boulardii were tested, and no clear dose-dependent effects were observed. The live microorganisms used to make many fermented foods, including yogurt, typically survive well in the product throughout its shelf life. However, they usually do not survive transit through the stomach and might not resist degradation in the small intestine by hydrolytic enzymes and bile salts and, therefore, might not reach the distal gut [ 7, 8]. However, legitimate probiotic strains contained in yogurt or other foods do survive intestinal transit. Didari T, Solki S, Mozaffari S, Nikfar S, Abdollahi M. A systematic review of the safety of probiotics. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2014;13:227-39. [ PubMed abstract]

Kumar R, Grover S, Batish VK. Bile salt hydrolase (Bsh) activity screening of lactobacilli: in vitro selection of indigenous Lactobacillus strains with potential bile salt hydrolysing and cholesterol-lowering ability. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2012;4:162-72. [ PubMed abstract] Tsai CC, Lin PP, Hsieh YM, Zhang ZY, Wu HC, Huang CC. Cholesterol-lowering potentials of lactic acid bacteria based on bile-salt hydrolase activity and effect of potent strains on cholesterol metabolism in vitro and in vivo. ScientificWorldJournal 2014;2014:690752. [ PubMed abstract]

Probiotics - NHS Probiotics - NHS

Freedman SB, Williamson-Urquhart S, Farion KJ, Gouin S, Willan AR, Poonai N, et al. Multicenter Trial of a Combination Probiotic for Children with Gastroenteritis. N Engl J Med 2018;379:2015-26. [ PubMed abstract] Because effects of probiotics can be specific to certain probiotic species and strains, recommendations for their use in the clinic or in research studies need to be species and strain specific [ 3, 5, 6]. Furthermore, pooling data from studies of different types of probiotics can result in misleading conclusions about their efficacy and safety. Sources of Probiotics Food Szajewska H, Horvath A. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in the primary prevention of eczema in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients 2018;10. [ PubMed abstract]

Derikx LA, Dieleman LA Hoentjen F. Probiotics and prebiotics in ulcerative colitis. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2016; 30: 55-71. [ PubMed abstract] Whether different strains of probiotic bacteria have beneficial effects on IBS probably depends on the IBS symptom being evaluated [ 48]. In a meta-analysis of 10 RCTs with a total of 877 adults treated with probiotics or placebo for 4 weeks to 6 months, pain scores improved significantly with administration of probiotics containing Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, or Lactobacillus acidophilus species compared with placebo treatment [ 49]. In contrast, Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and Saccharomyces boulardii had no significant effect. The abdominal distension scores improved with use of probiotics containing Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus casei, or Lactobacillus plantarum species. Flatulence declined with use of all tested probiotics, but the studies showed no positive effect of probiotics on quality of life. Hill C, Guarner F, Reid G, Gibson GR, Merenstein DJ, Pot B, et al. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2014;11:506-14. [ PubMed abstract]

Probiotic Products deliver a Healthy Gut for a Healthy Life

Ishimwe N, Daliri EB, Lee BH, Fang F, Du G. The perspective on cholesterol-lowering mechanisms of probiotics. Mol Nutr Food Res 2015;59:94-105. [ PubMed abstract] Overall, the available evidence suggests that the use of probiotics might reduce the risk of developing atopic dermatitis and lead to significant reductions in atopic dermatitis SCORAD scores, but these products might provide only limited relief from the condition. Furthermore, the effects of probiotics vary by the strain used, the timing of administration, and the patient’s age, so it is difficult to make recommendations. Pediatric acute infectious diarrhea Side effects of probiotics are usually minor and consist of self-limited gastrointestinal symptoms, such as gas. In a few cases, mainly involving individuals who were severely ill or immunocompromised, the use of probiotics has been linked to bacteremia, fungemia (fungi in the blood), or infections that result in severe illness [ 69, 70]. However, some case reports did not confirm that the specific strain of probiotics used was the cause of the infection. In other cases, the probiotic strain used was confirmed to be the opportunistic pathogen. Because species used as probiotics can be normal residents of a patient’s microbiota, such confirmation is important. At ProVen, we have a team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about furthering our understanding of the microbiome and its role in health and in bringing this message to as many people as possible. Certain unfermented foods, such as milks, juices, smoothies, cereals, nutrition bars, and infant and toddler formulas, have added microorganisms. Whether these foods are truly probiotics depends on the microorganism levels they contain when they are eaten, whether they survive intestinal transit, and whether their specific species and strains have health effects. Dietary supplementsBorriello SP, Hammes WP, Holzapfel W, Marteau P, Schrezenmeir J, Vaara M, et al. Safety of probiotics that contain lactobacilli or bifidobacteria. Clin Infect Dis 2003;36:775-80. [ PubMed abstract] Additional research, including well-powered RCTs, is needed to identify which patients with IBD might benefit from probiotics and which probiotic strains are most effective [ 32, 34]. Irritable bowel syndrome The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics defines probiotics as "live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host" [ 1]. These microorganisms, which consist mainly of bacteria but also include yeasts, are naturally present in fermented foods, may be added to other food products, and are available as dietary supplements. However, not all foods and dietary supplements labeled as probiotics on the market have proven health benefits. Munoz P, Bouza E, Cuenca-Estrella M, Eiros JM, Perez MJ, Sanchez-Somolinos M, et al. Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia: an emerging infectious disease. Clin Infect Dis 2005;40:1625-34. [ PubMed abstract]