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Abstract
The human gut microbiome influences systemic immunity, nutritional status, digestion and absorption, inflammatory state, and gene expression in addition to having the ability to alter many disease processes. Many health professionals promote probiotics in various forms to “improve the gut microbiome” without adequate supportive studies on colonization of specific probiotic strains, dose, or delivery methods. Humans ingest probiotics in multiple oral forms including in yogurt, fermented foods, and dietary supplements. Numerous supplements are available in powder-filled capsule form and they vary in heat-sensitivity, strain mix, dosage and quality. Many of the probiotic formulas available to the public include Lactobacillus strains.