Why Do People Take Probiotics?

Several times each month patients solicit my view on probiotics. The tens of billions of dollars spent annually by Americans on these agents provides us with overwhelming evidence of an economic truth – marketing works. Conversely, the evidence that probiotics actually deliver on their health claims ranges between thin and absent. Why, then, are they so popular?

While modern medicine has delivered much for the public, there are so many mysterious and chronic afflictions that remain out of reach. Patients and physicians struggle over addressing bowel disorders, chronic arthritis, depression, fatigue, memory lapses, allergies, autoimmune diseases, skin rashes, sleep disorders, obesity and many other stubborn conditions. When conventional medicine fails to deliver, many other treatments of questionable quality emerge. This is undeniable. Claiming benefit, however, should not be sufficient. Any new treatment should be subjected to the same rigorous vetting process that all drugs and medical devices undergo. I certainly understand why a suffering patient is willing to consider treatments that promise relief in the absence of proven benefit. Remember, how many folks during the pandemic were willing to swallow hydroxychloroquine or even ivermectin?

Keep Away from the FDA!

Probiotics are exempted from the standard prescription Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) drug approval process. And, you won’t find any probiotic manufacturers clamoring to fall under the FDA's firm regulatory hand. Why not? If their products worked as well as they claimed, wouldn’t you think they would want the FDA’s seal of approval? On the contrary, the biggest threat these companies could face is an aggressive FDA testing probiotics for safety and efficacy. Instead, probiotics are permitted to use phrasing such as 'clinically tested' or similar vague language which is not the rigor the public deserves. Consumers should regard such claims of benefit to be advertising and not medical evidence. Advocate for yourself. Research the risks and benefits of probiotics - as you might any proposed treatment - from trusted medical sources and authorities. Then, make an informed decision.

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