The Role of Probiotics

• Probiotics are live microorganisms that can benefit the host.
• Microbial contact during fetal life is very important, but with antibiotics and C-sections becoming more popular, this could diminish the infant gut microbiome.
• A potential therapy or treatment for this could be the supplementation of probiotics for breastfeeding mothers.
• Some studies have found that taking probiotics, while breastfeeding may reduce the risk of developing eczema (6).
  • The researchers think the probiotics might help by changing the immune properties of breast milk, making it better for babies' immune systems (6).
  • They also suggest that probiotics could introduce healthy gut bacteria from the mom to the baby through breast milk. They recommend probiotics for allergic moms who test positive for allergens during pregnancy and breastfeeding (6).
• There are several probiotic treatments currently on the market!
• The role of probiotics in reducing other diseases later in life is speculative, and requires further research. This is something to consider when deciding whether or not to take a supplement.