Can probiotics harm your gut?

BE WARY of jumping on the probiotic bandwagon – it may be harmful for your gut.

The results of two new studies show taking a daily probiotic supplement twice daily for up to three weeks can halt the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.

Scientists at the Weizmann Institute in Israel studied volunteers who took a probiotic after a course of antibiotics and discovered that it delayed the recovery of their gut bacteria, compared to those who took a placebo pill.

Antibiotics have been shown to obliterate the gut microbiome. In the studies, stool samples and fluid within the gut were taken from participants weekly for six months after the experiment.