Knowledge

What Are Some Signs That Probiotics Are Working?

There are numerous signs that probiotics are working, such as reduced flatulence and bloating, regularized gut motility, and reduced abdominal discomfort for patients with IBS¹. A robust gut microbiome can exert positive effects on the health of other organs, including the brain, skin, heart, and immune system. 

The gut microbiota has the capacity to stimulate the vagus nerve, leading to improvements in mood and sleep²,³. Moreover, the gut microbiota can synthesize neurotransmitters such as serotonin, reducing depression and anxiety². Other signs that probiotics are working include better skin health, as evidenced by improvements in key measures such as epidermal thickness⁴. Healthy gut microbiota have also been linked with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease⁵.

Read more about the importance of probiotics and prebiotics here.

References

  1. Spiller, R. (2008). Review article: Probiotics and prebiotics in irritable bowel syndrome. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 28(4), 385–396. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2008.03750.x
  2. Liang, S., Wu, X., & Jin, F. (2018). Gut-brain psychology: Rethinking psychology from the microbiota–gut–brain axis. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2018.00033
  3. Matenchuk, B. A., Mandhane, P. J., & Kozyrskyj, A. L. (2020). Sleep, circadian rhythm, and gut microbiota. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 53, 101340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2020.101340
  4. Mahmud, Md. R., Akter, S., Tamanna, S. K., Mazumder, L., Esti, I. Z., Banerjee, S., Akter, S., Hasan, Md. R., Acharjee, M., Hossain, Md. S., & Pirttilä, A. M. (2022). Impact of gut microbiome on skin health: Gut-skin axis observed through the lenses of therapeutics and skin diseases. Gut Microbes, 14(1), 2096995. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2022.2096995
  5. Yoshida, N., Yamashita, T., & Hirata, K. (2018). Gut microbiome and cardiovascular diseases. Diseases, 6(3), 56. https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases6030056

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