# What's a good way to find helpful information on probiotics?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-way-to-find-helpful-information-on-probiotics/671927>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 22, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-way-to-find-helpful-information-on-probiotics/671927 "2013-10-22T13:56:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-way-to-find-helpful-information-on-probiotics/671927/1 "2013-10-22T13:56:54Z")

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I’m curious about probiotics and ways they can be used to minimize intestinal/digestive problems. But I’m wary of almost everything in the dietary supplement industry.  
Wiki is a bit skeptical on health benefits:

> **[Probiotic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probiotic)**
>
> Probiotics are live microorganisms promoted with claims that they provide health benefits when consumed, generally by improving or restoring the gut microbiota. Probiotics are considered generally safe to consume, but may cause bacteria-host interactions and unwanted side effects in rare cases. There is some evidence that probiotics are beneficial for some conditions, but there is little evidence for many of the health benefits claimed for them.
> The first discovered probiotic was a certain strai...

And I appreciate that, but am interested in looking a bit deeper than wikipedia. Any suggestions?

[sub]Note: You are not giving medical advice, I am not your patient, the probiotics wouldn’t even be for me, you are not my lawyer, I do not live in your jurisdiction, I am not a merganser.[/sub]

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-way-to-find-helpful-information-on-probiotics/671927/2 "2013-10-22T15:51:14Z")

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Visit this [recent thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=705534) for some discussion, including the mainstream evidence-based medical community’s take on the topic. Most of the ‘deeper’ stuff on the web will put you hip-deep in male bovine endproducts, so wear boots.