| Used for
| Amount | Why |
|---|
Colic | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner |  [3 stars] Research suggests probiotics may benefit babies with colic who are breast-fed or fed milk-based formula.
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Constipation | Amount depends on the probiotic strain used | [3 stars] Research has shown that the probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei Shirota may help relieve chronic constipation after two weeks of supplementation. |
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome | Refer to label instructions
| [3 stars] A daily drink containing probiotics significantly reduced IBS symptoms in one study.
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Obesity | Up to 9x109 (nine billion) colony forming units daily | [3 stars] A growing body of research shows probiotics can increase weight loss in those with overweight and obesity. |
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Tooth Decay | Add 5 to 10 x 105 CFU per ml to milk or formula | [3 stars] Supplementing with probiotics may inhibit cavity-causing bacteria. |
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Type 2 Diabetes | 7 billion CFU or more of a mix of probiotic strains daily | [3 stars] Probiotics can improve blood glucose control, as well as cholesterol and triglyceride levels, in people with type 2 diabetes. |
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Vaginitis | Apply a daily topical preparation or a suppository containing live culture | [3 stars] A topical preparation or suppository containing live Lactobacillus acidophilus may help relieve symptoms and prevent recurrent infections. |
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Yeast Infection | 3 capsules or 1/4 tsp powder, taken by mouth three times daily, or use powder in douche or vaginal suppositories daily | [3 stars] Supplementing with probiotics may prevent the overgrowth of yeast organisms. |
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Allergies and Sensitivities and Food Allergies | 2.6 billion organisms per day for infants |  [2 stars] Probiotics such as Lactobacillus GG may improve digestion in people with food allergies, helping the intestinal tract control allergen absorption and changing immune system responses to foods. |
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Athletic Performance | Fermented milk containing 6.5 billion live Lactobacillus casei Shirota organisms, twice a day for 16 weeks
| [2 stars] In a double-blind trial, supplementation with a probiotic preparation reduced the frequency of upper respiratory tract infections in training athletes during the winter.
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Canker Sores | Apply powdered culture topically several times daily and orally take 1.5 billion colony-forming units two times daily
| [2 stars] Topical and/or oral use of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus may help people with recurrent canker sores.
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Common Cold
(Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bi-07
) | A total of 1,010 colony-forming units per day for the combination
| [2 stars] In a double-blind study conducted in China, children who received probiotics for six months had a significantly lower incidence of cold symptoms compared with children who received a placebo. |
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Common Cold and Sore Throat | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] Daily supplementation with a probiotic may decrease the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children. |
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Crohn’s Disease | At least 250 mg of Saccharomyces boulardii taken three times per day | [2 stars] In double-blind research, diarrhea caused by Crohn’s disease has partially responded to supplementation with the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii. |
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Diverticular Disease | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] In a double-blind study of patients with diverticular disease in remission, supplementing with a probiotic significantly decreased the number of people who suffered a recurrence of symptoms or a flare-up of acute diverticulitis. |
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Eczema | 10 billion colony-forming units daily of lactobacillus-type bacteria | [2 stars] Pregnant women and newborns who take probiotic supplements may reduce risk of eczema in early life. |
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Gingivitis | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] In two double-blind studies, the use of probiotic lozenges resulted in a modest improvement in certain measures of periodontal disease. |
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Halitosis | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] Preparations and gums containing probiotics have shown some promise for improving halitosis. |
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Hay Fever | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] In one trial, supplementing with Bifidobacterium longum strain BB536 during the pollen season significantly decreased symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal blockage. |
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HIV and AIDS Support | Take under medical supervision: 1 gram three times per day of Saccharomyces boulardii for diarrhea | [2 stars] In one trial, Saccharomyces boulardii helped stop diarrhea in HIV-positive people. |
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Immune Function | 10 billion colony-forming units a day of acidophilus or bifidobacteria-only for intestinal infections | [2 stars] Probiotics help stimulate the intestine’s immune system and slow the growth of infectious organisms. |
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Infection | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner | [2 stars] Lactobacillus acidophilus produces acids that kill invading bacteria. These and other probiotics inhibit the growth of potentially infectious organisms and have been shown to be effective against some infections. |
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Liver Cirrhosis | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] A probiotic preparation called VSL#3, which contains 8 different strains of beneficial bacteria, has been shown to improve the impaired mental and neurological function that is commonly seen in people with cirrhosis. |
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Metabolic Syndrome | = 6.5 billion colony forming units (CFUs) daily | [2 stars] Early research indicates probiotics have likely, though small, benefits on metabolic and cardiovascular health. |
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Pre- and Post-Surgery Health | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] One meta-analysis found that the use of a probiotic or synbiotic (probiotic plus prebiotic) product around the time of surgery significantly decreased the incidence of severe infections following elective surgery. |
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Ulcerative Colitis | 10 to 600 billion colony-forming units per day of probiotic bacteria, or 250 mg of Saccharomyces boulardii three times daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with probiotics has been shown to help people with ulcerative colitis. |
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Urinary Tract Infection | 1 billion colony-forming units of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14, twice a day
| [2 stars] Double-blind research found that probiotics may help prevent UTI recurrence.
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Vaginitis | Take a supplement providing 10 billion of each twice per day | [2 stars] Supplementing with probiotics may help prevent recurrences of bacterial or candidal vaginitis. |
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Chronic Candidiasis | Refer to label instructions
|  [1 star] Lactobacillus acidophilus is a type of probiotic that appears to help re-establish proper intestinal flora and prevent yeast overgrowth. |
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Stress | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Probiotic supplements may help counteract stress’s detrimental effect on the balance of intestinal bacteria. |
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