Probiotic Effect on GI Microbiome

Over several years, consumer probiotic consumption has increased substantially. Consequently, the number of over-the-counter probiotic products available to consumers has also increased. Many consumers use probiotics for preventative purposes rather than to treat specific illnesses. The influence of probiotics on the healthy human gut microbiome has not been extensively studied and many questions remain regarding the influence of probiotic supplementation on existing gut flora. In this study, the effect of a commercial probiotic containing Bifidobacterium infantis on the composition and diversity of gut flora in healthy adults was examined.