ASK THE PHARMACIST | What are probiotics and when should I take them?

Our resident pharmacist answers your questions ranging from troubling medication side effects to beneficial nutritional supplements

01 March 2023 - 10:50
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Our resident pharmacist answers your wellness and health questions.
Our resident pharmacist answers your wellness and health questions.
Image: Supplied

We all have a unique community of trillions of beneficial and possibly harmful bacteria, yeasts and other organisms living in our bodies, called a microbiome. They mostly live in the gut, but are also found in, for example, the mouth, vagina, urinary tract, skin and lungs. A healthy and balanced microbiome is critical to our overall wellbeing. Some call it our “second brain”.

Even small imbalances in our microbiome may cause significant change, not only to the digestive system, but also to skin appearance, mental health, immune system and weight. For example, when we are sick, bad bacteria can increase and throw out the balance of our microbiome. Imbalances can also be triggered by certain diets or medications.

Probiotics are a combination of good and beneficial bacteria and/or yeasts that occur naturally in our bodies. Good bacteria may help with digesting food, supporting the immune function, controlling inflammation, producing vitamins and breaking down and absorbing medicine. The main purpose of probiotics is to restore and maintain a healthy, neutral balance in our bodies.

Probiotic supplements are often prescribed together with antibiotics. They replace the good bacteria in our bodies that have been destroyed by antibiotics and assist with side effects like diarrhoea. It is very important you take the probiotic at least two hours before or after the antibiotic. Otherwise, all those good bacteria in the probiotic are killed by powerful antibiotics.

Probiotics are usually taken twice a day on an empty stomach and should be continued for several weeks. There is generally no harm in taking a probiotic every day; it is safe and encouraged.

Probiotics are usually taken twice a day on an empty stomach and should be continued for several weeks. There is generally no harm in taking a probiotic every day. It is safe and encouraged.

Eating a well-balanced, fibre-rich diet also helps to keep the good bacteria at appropriate levels. Foods such as yoghurt, buttermilk, dark chocolate, fermented pickles, cottage cheese, sourdough bread and miso soup are home to a host of good bacteria.

Common probiotics found in health supplements are the bacteria Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii. When buying a supplement, choose a high-quality product from a trustworthy manufacturer with at least one of these strains and containing a minimum of a billion colony-forming units (the number of live micro-organisms) each per dosing unit, for example capsule. This may be indicated on the label as 1 x 109 CFU.

A large amount of research on probiotics is being undertaken to find answers on how probiotics can assist with specific conditions.

My recommendation is to trust your gut and support your healthy microbiome daily with probiotics.

* Thealdi Mitchell is a qualified registered pharmacist (B.Pharm) and managing editor of MIMS, a leading South African medical reference publisher owned by Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd. She has experience in retail and hospital pharmacy, manufacturing and the medical aid industry. She believes in a holistic approach to health and taking small, daily steps to make better choices in self-care.

Do you have a question for our pharmacist? Email your question to: pharmacist@timeslive.co.za

Unfortunately, not every question can be published and our pharmacist cannot enter into private correspondence with readers. If your question is not published, keep an eye out for information that generally relates to the topic in future columns.

MIMS is the medical publishing division of Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd and is Southern Africa's leading publisher of reference information to the medical profession.
MIMS is the medical publishing division of Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd and is Southern Africa's leading publisher of reference information to the medical profession.
Image: Supplied

Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made in compiling and checking the information in this column to ensure it is accurate, the author, publisher or their agents shall not be responsible or liable for the continued accuracy of the information, or for any errors, omissions and inaccuracies, whether arising from negligence or otherwise or for any consequences arising therefrom. The information contained in this column is not a substitute for a medical doctor’s diagnosis and treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare practitioner with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read in this column or on this website.


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