Can probiotics prevent upper respiratory tract infections
Millions of people take probiotics to treat and prevent a
number of medical disorders. Probiotics have been claimed to treat a wide variety
of medical ailments. Previous data also support the use of probiotics for the
treatment of infectious diarrhea and
vaginal infections during pregnancy. Similar studies on elderly people
have not shown a reduction in the common cold but the duration of the infection
has been shortened. More
important, the risk of getting really sick was also much lower in people taking
probiotics.
However, for most of the medical disorders, the evidence for
probiotics in fighting disease is scant.
At the moment it is not known how long the benefits of probiotics
last if the supplement is stopped.
In any case, for consumers who are prone to the common
cold and do not like taking medications, probiotics are an option. These health
supplements are relatively cheap, safe and come in a variety of flavors.
In my opinion the only sure way to know if these products
lower the frequency of the common cold, is to try them out.
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