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European Journal of Nutrition
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition 1/2011

01-02-2011 | Review

Health benefits of probiotics: are mixtures more effective than single strains?

Authors: C. M. C. Chapman, G. R. Gibson, I. Rowland

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Purpose

Most studies on probiotics utilise single strains, sometimes incorporated into yoghurts. There are fewer studies on efficacy of mixtures of probiotic strains. This review examines the evidence that (a) probiotic mixtures are beneficial for a range of health-related outcomes and (b) mixtures are more or less effective than their component strains administered separately.

Results

Mixtures of probiotics had beneficial effects on the end points including irritable bowel syndrome and gut function, diarrhoea, atopic disease, immune function and respiratory tract infections, gut microbiota modulation, inflammatory bowel disease and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, only 16 studies compared the effect of a mixture with that of its component strains separately, although in 12 cases (75%), the mixture was more effective.

Conclusion

Probiotic mixtures appear to be effective against a wide range of end points. Based on a limited number of studies, multi-strain probiotics appear to show greater efficacy than single strains, including strains that are components of the mixtures themselves. However, whether this is due to synergistic interactions between strains or a consequence of the higher probiotic dose used in some studies is at present unclear.
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Metadata
Title
Health benefits of probiotics: are mixtures more effective than single strains?
Authors
C. M. C. Chapman
G. R. Gibson
I. Rowland
Publication date
01-02-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 1/2011
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-010-0166-z

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