"Jury Still Out On Probiotics" - Dennis Thompson
Probiotics have become a trendy dietary supplement, with more and more people popping bacteria-laden capsules to try to improve their gut health. But these supplements could harm some patients, and researchers have done a poor job tracking their safety, a new review argues. Reporting of side effects is often "missing, insufficient or inadequate" in clinical trials aimed at assessing the value of probiotics, according to findings published July 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. "Some people have a perception that probiotics are healthy no matter what," said Joshua Novak, MD, assistant professor of medicine and gastroenterology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. These researchers are suggesting that outcomes should be reported, Dr. Novak continued. “Even if there are none at all, they should be reported as such,” he said.
- Joshua D. Novak, MD, Assistant Professor, Medicine, Gastroenterology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai