In daily life, many people have heard of probiotics and associate them closely with gut health. However, there are still many misunderstandings and partial misconceptions about probiotics. To help the public gain a more scientific understanding of probiotics, on June 11, the CFIC (Center for Food and Nutrition Information Communication) jointly with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Institute of Nutrition and Health, the Food Hygiene Branch of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, and the Health Communication Branch, released the report "Scientific Understanding of Probiotics-Clarifying 10 Common Misconceptions About Probiotics." This report provides a clear and easy-to-understand explanation of probiotics' concepts, functions, and usage misconceptions, helping consumers better understand the true value of probiotics.
Misconception 1: Probiotics = Lactic Acid Bacteria
Probiotics are a group of live microorganisms that are beneficial to human health. When consumed in sufficient amounts, they can help maintain a balanced gut microbiota, promote nutrient absorption, and, to some extent, enhance immunity. Lactic acid bacteria, on the other hand, are a common term that generally refers to bacteria capable of fermenting sugars and primarily producing lactic acid. It is important to note that "lactic acid bacteria" is not a strict microbiological classification but rather a collective term for bacteria with similar functional characteristics.
Probiotics are not equivalent to lactic acid bacteria. Probiotics include many strains, most of which belong to the lactic acid bacteria groups Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis (subspecies lactis), Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Lactobacillus reuteri, and others.
It should be noted that not all lactic acid bacteria are probiotics. Although lactic acid bacteria are widely used in food and gut health, some strains may offer no benefit to humans and could even have adverse effects. Only specific strains that have been scientifically studied and clinically verified to provide clear health benefits are truly considered probiotics. Moreover, the scope of probiotics is not limited to lactic acid bacteria. Certain yeast and spore-forming bacteria with significant health benefits can also be classified as probiotics, such as the commonly known Saccharomyces boulardii and Bacillus coagulans.