Studies are showing that diversity (the number of different species of bacteria present) of your gut microbiome is crucial to overall health, including how your body manages insulin and cholesterol as well as severity of inflammatory diseases.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be eaten as foods or nutritional supplements to balance the microbiomes in your mouth, digestive tract, lungs and vagina.

1. Reduces Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Researchers have reported that probiotics may help alleviate symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal disorders. Probiotics work by decreasing harmful organisms in your gut, producing antimicrobial compounds or stimulating immune function – each probiotic has different effects on our bodies so it’s important to find one which suits you specifically.

Probiotics have long been recognized for producing various substances that support gut mucosal barrier strength, thus protecting the bloodstream from toxic molecules produced by pathogens. Such substances include cytokines and enzymes which neutralize inflammatory molecules produced by pathogens while simultaneously hindering their growth or competing with them for nutrition.

Scientists have successfully genetically engineered lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to produce more potency of certain molecules and improve effectiveness. For instance, in Lactobacillus acidophilus they switched out thymidylate synthase production with interleukin-10 production genes for testing on 10 Crohn’s disease patients; eight showed significant benefits while five went into complete clinical remission as a result of using this strain.

Multiple studies have demonstrated the efficacy of probiotics to alleviate IBS symptoms, specifically bloating. For instance, one conducted in 2016 with over 300 participants found that those who consumed rose-hip drink mixed with oatmeal soup fermented with L. plantarum bacteria had less bloating than those who only consumed rose-hip drink or combined it with another supplement containing four different strains (L. acidophilus, Bifidobacterium, and S. thermophilus).

Another study with 247 participants suffering from IBS revealed that those taking daily multistrain probiotic pills containing Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus experienced significantly greater relief of abdominal discomfort compared to those given placebo pills. They also experienced decreased stool frequency and an improvement in quality of life (QOL).

While early results show promise in using probiotics to treat IBS, further large-scale and high-quality clinical trials must be completed to confirm their efficacy. Anyone considering beginning any new health regimen, including probiotics, should always consult their physician first to ensure it will not adversely impact their condition.

2. Reduces Blood Sugar Levels

Probiotics have been demonstrated to significantly enhance glucose metabolism in diabetic patients by increasing diversity of gut bacteria and decreasing chronic low-grade inflammation resulting from dysbiosis. Their benefits stem from multiple mechanisms, including inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms, improving intestinal transit time, increasing insulin sensitivity and producing bioactive metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids. Clinical trials conducted on various probiotic species such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species showed particular effectiveness for improving diabetic glucose management.

Probiotics have also been demonstrated to provide mood-boosting effects. Probiotics have been found to decrease both stress levels in humans and animals alike; one fermented milk drink containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota significantly decreased anxiety and depression among medical students who were under prolonged stress, as well as increasing serotonin levels while decreasing cortisol increases.

Another study demonstrated how probiotics may assist with mood disorders by reducing inflammation and helping the body absorb essential nutrients. This research was compiled from multiple studies – both in vitro and animal experiments – before being reviewed by experts in mood regulation.

Researchers found that probiotics significantly decreased total scores on the Beck Depression Inventory for people suffering from depressive disorders – with probiotic diftomycin showing particular promise in this regard. Furthermore, short-term courses of probiotic also helped improve insulin sensitivity and the systemic inflammatory response by decreasing levels of hs-CRP.

Research findings are encouraging, yet more large-scale studies with diverse participants must be completed in order to confirm them. It should also be noted that many probiotics used in these studies contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMO probiotics pose an ongoing threat of adverse side-effects in other bacteria, necessitating further research and careful supervision. For this reason, it is wise to opt for natural-source probiotics over genetically engineered ones; Pendulum Glucose Control has been clinically shown to lower A1C and blood sugar spikes among diabetic patients by creating an ecosystem consisting of multiple strains of beneficial bacteria to rebalance the gut microbiome and restore its balance.

3. Reduces Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol in the blood and trapped within arterial walls increases one’s risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Probiotics may help lower total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, thus decreasing risk for CVD.

Recently, in a meta-analysis that included 30 RCTs, those who took probiotics showed lower total and LDL cholesterol concentrations compared with those not taking them by 7.8 mg/dL overall and 7.3 mg/dL LDL respectively. Although various strains of probiotics were studied, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis mixture and Saccharomyces boulardii proved especially helpful at reducing cholesterol.

High cholesterol may be caused by various factors, including genetic susceptibility, imbalance or disruption of commensal host microflora particularly the Firmicutes phylum, and an abnormal intestinal immune response. Probiotics have been employed in an attempt to restore balance and dampen down an inappropriate immune response among Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) patients.

One study used six single-strain probiotics for four weeks as part of an experimental regimen on mice. Researchers discovered that probiotics significantly decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL levels while simultaneously inhibiting hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis to bring cholesterol down and increase HDL.

Probiotics have been suggested as having various mechanisms that lower cholesterol, including inhibition of hepatic 7a-hydroxylase activity, interference with enterohepatic cycling of bile salt conjugates and modulating satiety hormones. Furthermore, Bacillus Coagulans was reported as possessing direct anticholesterol properties.

However, this does not need to be the case and here is why: Research suggests that probiotics may help ease symptoms associated with IBS; however, additional high-quality clinical trials are required to ascertain an ideal combination, dosage and duration for treatment as well as specific digestive ailments for which probiotics appear most helpful. Anyone considering taking any type of complementary health approach should first consult their healthcare provider, to ensure it won’t interfere with or compromise the effectiveness or safety of any medications they’re currently taking, whether prescription or over-the-counter. A holistic practitioner offers an ideal way to address patients’ specific symptoms and concerns by tailoring an individualized treatment plan to address individual symptoms.

4. Reduces Inflammation

Research suggests that probiotics can prevent or treat seven health conditions: atopic dermatitis, pediatric acute infectious diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, hypercholesterolemia and obesity. Probiotics are cultureable microbes that can be administered to enhance health by altering the intestinal microbiota. Most probiotics consist of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These beneficial bacteria can be found naturally in human intestines and colon at high densities, particularly the ileum and jejunum, but also at lower densities in the colon. Their ability to produce short-chain fatty acids while lacking lipopolysaccharides, secreted proteases or antimicrobial compounds makes them excellent probiotic candidates.

Probiotics have various effects on gut microbiota, depending on which strain and region of the gastrointestinal tract they colonize. Studies involving various combinations of single and multistrain probiotics have demonstrated that Lactobacillus strain mixtures were most effective at treating IBS than placebo in one clinical trial; additionally, their combination increased mucosal cells’ ratio of IL-10:IL-12 production significantly more efficiently than their single counterparts.

One study demonstrated that a probiotic supplement containing L. casei, L. plantarum and L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus reduced abdominal pain and stool frequency among IBS patients while decreasing the need for anti-inflammatory medications and improving quality of life.

Probiotics can also assist in reducing cholesterol levels in the blood, which is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Probiotics help increase HDL levels which transport cholesterol away from cells to the liver for processing and excretion from the body.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 RCTs conducted among 1,067 overweight or obese individuals showed that probiotic supplements, typically a mixture of Lactobacillus species, reduced body weight and body fat in six trials; none had any significant impact; three trials had no noticeable change; while two experienced increased body weight. While more evidence needs to support these findings due to most trials using multistrain products with unknown dosage and other factors; more research must be conducted.