The effects of probiotics are highly strain-dependent, meaning that different strains from the same bacteria may have different therapeutic effects. Many may think that understanding down to the strain level is enough. For example, our previous list of edible strains has already covered the strain level, but in reality, a deep understanding of specific strains is just as critical, as they often determine the function of probiotics.
In the world of probiotics, just like biodiversity in nature, the diversity of strains also plays a key role. Different probiotic strains may play different roles in maintaining intestinal health, strengthening the immune system, improving digestion, and more. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the characteristics of a specific strain is critical to selecting a probiotic suitable for individual health needs. This also highlights the complexity of probiotic research and the need for more in-depth understanding to realize their full potential.
For example, the nationally approved list of strains that can be used in infant and young child foods includes Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716, Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, etc., which is down to the strain level, which means that not all Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus helveticus are the same. , can be used in infant food, only the specific strains CECT5716 and R0052 can be used.
This is just like there are many different breeds of dogs in real life, such as Chihuahuas, Poodles, Huskies, Tibetan Kwai, etc. They all belong to the same species, but belong to different breeds, with different body shapes and personalities. The same is true for probiotics, which are all Lactobacillus helveticus, and the functions of different strains may be significantly different.
