Probiotics live microorganisms found in certain bacteria and yeasts play a crucial role in maintaining health even though bacteria are often associated with illness. As Michael J. Gray, Ph.D. of the University of Alabama at Birmingham notes these microbes support the body in complex ways beyond simple digestion. For example probiotic bacteria break down dietary fiber complex carbohydrates that bypass the small intestine into beneficial byproducts that promote regularity help regulate blood sugar and lower cholesterol reducing risks for chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. However most people fall short of the recommended 30 grams of fiber per day. Probiotics also enhance protein utilization by producing enzymes that break proteins into smaller components or by stimulating the body’s own digestive enzymes increasing protein bioavailability and making it easier for the body to absorb and use this essential nutrient.

Probiotics also influence fat metabolism with strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG shown to reduce fat absorption by competing for uptake in the intestines and modulating lipid and bile acid metabolism through digestive enzymes and bile salt hydrolases affecting how the body absorbs and uses lipids and cholesterol. They promote the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) vital for gut barrier integrity inflammation control and cellular metabolic health often by fermenting fiber or stimulating other bacteria that can. However their effectiveness depends on factors such as stomach acidity which can be altered by medications like antacids or PPIs and the composition of each person’s unique microbiome. Diet plays a key role fiber and prebiotics enhance probiotic survival and activity while high intakes of saturated fats sugars and processed foods have the opposite effect.

Research shows that probiotics can help manage various digestive issues including bloating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease with multiple meta-analyses supporting their role in reducing IBS symptoms like abdominal pain bloating and flatulence and aiding in remission maintenance for conditions such as ulcerative colitis. They are also proven to shorten the duration and severity of diarrhea particularly after infections or antibiotic use. Scientists study probiotics in the gut using stool samples intestinal biopsies and molecular techniques such as quantitative PCR and metagenomic sequencing to assess their ability to colonize persist and influence the existing microbiome while lab models like cultured cells and intestinal organoids provide controlled environments for deeper investigation. Collectively these clinical and experimental findings are revealing how probiotics support digestive health from within.

Source: https://www.uab.edu/news/news-you-can-use/gut-check-how-probiotics-impact-digestion-and-the-bodys-microbiome