Should I Take Probiotics?

Could you cover probiotics too? I’ve started using them for the kids when they’re on antibiotics, and then the same for myself, and at some point it became a daily thing. I’m taking one specifically for breast health to ward off recurring mastitis.

—Anonymous

There’s some overall supportive evidence on probiotics for diarrhea in kids. A 2020 review suggested that they may, indeed, be beneficial for antibiotic-associated diarrhea. So: yes on probiotics.

I’m afraid that your use for mastitis may be less well supported in the data. As one paper said: “From the analysis of the published literature, it appears that currently there is no sound scientific foundation for the use of probiotics to prevent or treat mastitis.”

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