The most common negative side effects of probiotics are temporary digestive issues like gas, bloating, and mild diarrhea, as your gut adjusts. More serious, though rarer, risks for vulnerable individuals (like the immunocompromised) can include infections, allergic reactions, headaches, and potentially the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes, so consulting a doctor is crucial, especially with underlying health conditions.
There's a small risk of adverse side effects for people with weaker immune systems. This includes people taking immunosuppressant drugs, people with critical illnesses and infants who've been born prematurely. The risk is that a probiotic product might contain a harmful type of microbe along with the helpful types.
Possible harmful effects of probiotics include infections, production of harmful substances by the probiotic microorganisms, and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes from probiotic microorganisms to other microorganisms in the digestive tract.
Certain strains of probiotics may lead to headaches for some people. Fermented dairy products, such as kefir or yogurt, often contain the bacterial strains Lactobacillus helveticus, L. buchneri, L. hilgardii, and Streptococcus thermophilus.
Probiotics Benefit Brain Function
Probiotics are the beneficial yeast and bacteria in the gut that keep you healthy, and research shows that probiotics are responsible for making most of the body's serotonin that sends messages and chemicals to the brain.
What are the best probiotic strains for older adults?
The symptoms may include:
Probiotics and prebiotics are two parts of food that may support gut health. Probiotics are specific living microorganisms, most often bacteria or yeast that help the body digest food or help with symptoms of certain illnesses.
Those who take probiotics or prebiotics can experience bloating and flatulence. Doctors advise people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or immunosuppressed to avoid them. They no longer recommend taking them after most antibiotics, since studies show they can delay recolonization of the gut with “good” bacteria.
For the most efficient results, we recommend a minumum 3-month course of treatment for any probiotic supplement. If your skin or digestive issues are more chronic or long-lasting in nature, you can extend the supplement use past three months or as long as desired.
Signs of bad gut health include digestive issues like bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and heartburn; skin problems such as acne or eczema; mood changes like anxiety or depression; fatigue; sugar cravings; and unintentional weight changes, all stemming from an imbalance in your gut microbiome (dysbiosis). These symptoms can signal that your gut isn't processing food and eliminating waste effectively, impacting overall well-being, notes Healthdirect and GoodRx.
Whilst there is no immediate danger or serious risks to taking probiotics if you do not need them, it could lead to some minor stomach upset as they could affect the balance of bacteria inside the gut microbiome.
Signs you might need probiotics include frequent digestive issues (bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation), frequent infections (colds, sore throats), skin problems (acne, eczema), mood changes (anxiety, brain fog), and fatigue, especially after taking antibiotics or when your gut health seems off despite a healthy lifestyle. These symptoms often point to an imbalanced gut microbiome, which probiotics can help restore by introducing beneficial bacteria.
Over-the-counter probiotic supplements may compete with the healthy bacteria in your gut. It's best to get probiotics from the foods you eat. Probiotic foods include yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and fermented fruits and vegetables.
Relevant to the practice of gastroenterology, probiotics are commonly used by patients with gastrointestinal complaints or diseases. Increasingly, probiotics are also being recommended by the clinicians who treat these conditions.
Some medications that may interact with certain probiotics include: antibiotics, antifungals (such as clotrimazole, ketoconazole, griseofulvin, nystatin).
Nassar notes that most adults don't need to be too worried about their magnesium levels. "For the average person who maintains a well-balanced diet, it's rare to be deficient in magnesium," Dr. Nassar says. That's because it's naturally found in many foods.
There are a few possible situations going on.
First, adding a bunch of new organisms to the current intestinal environment can create a battleground of sorts. These new organism have to fight for space and resources and this effect along with a shifting balance in the gut can create some discomfort.
Symptoms that are common to both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis include:
Taking too many probiotics may cause digestive symptoms like gas, bloating, and nausea. But a large dose of probiotics is unlikely to cause dangerous side effects in healthy people. It's a good idea to work with a healthcare professional to make sure you're taking the right probiotic for you.
In addition to balancing good and bad bacteria, probiotics offer a number of benefits to older adults. They help reduce the frequency and duration of diarrhea. Some strains can help improve heart health. They can help relieve lactose intolerance – the inability to digest sugar in dairy products.
Top-rated probiotics often include well-researched brands like Culturelle, Ritual Synbiotic+, Seed DS-01, and Florastor, chosen for specific strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG or Saccharomyces boulardii, which support digestion, immunity, or antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The "best" probiotic depends on your goal (e.g., bloating, vaginal health, menopause) and specific strains, with expert reviews highlighting brands like Mindbodygreen, Garden of Life, and Jarrow Formulas for their quality and effectiveness.
GASTROINTESTINAL SIDE EFFECTS
Studies have reported minor gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal cramping, nausea, soft stools, flatulence, and taste disturbance, occurring in subjects receiving probiotics.