“For three specific use cases, yes — the AGA's 2020 clinical practice guidelines recommend probiotics for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants, preventing C. difficile in adults on antibiotics, and treating pouchitis. For everything else (IBS, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, general 'gut health,' immune support, mood) the AGA's position is that the evidence does not yet support routine use.”
“Less than the marketing wants you to believe. CFU count (colony-forming units, the live bacteria count per dose) is the number probiotic brands emphasize because it is easy to understand and easy to make impressive.”
“Strains are identified by genus, species, AND a specific strain code. A label that says 'Lactobacillus acidophilus' tells you the genus and species but not which strain — and there are thousands of L. acidophilus strains with different properties and clinical evidence.”