WHAT is this:
An educational tool to assist with decision making regarding appropriate probiotic products.
WHO is the intended user:
This Guide is designed to translate scientific evidence available for probiotic products to practical, clinically relevant information. It is intended to be used as a decision-making tool, enabling consumers and health care workers to select the appropriate product, dose, and formulation for a specific indication.
WHY is this needed:
Currently, the body of evidence for probiotic interventions is growing along with popular demand for these products. There is evidence to support their use for a variety of indications beyond gut health, however, applications and results are strain-specific. Consumer choice is hampered by a lack of claims and comparative guidelines. Bringing this evidence together in one place provides a key independent resource to support informed decisions on probiotic selection choice.
Due to frequent changes in the commercial availability of probiotic strains, newly published evidence, and growing research, an annual review and updates of the Canadian Clinical Guide have been conducted since 2008. A general lack of adverse effects attributable to probiotics supports the widespread use of these products but ongoing investigation and clarity is recommended.