Yogurt Bacteria Supplements Often Duds, Dangerous

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Yogurt Bacteria Supplements Often Duds, Dangerous

Tue Nov 12, 4:56 PM ET

By Alison McCook

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters Health) - An analysis of 20 Lactobacillus supplements

sold in Seattle stores reveals that only a fraction actually contained the

live organism, which is a beneficial bacteria commonly found in yogurt.

" We found that they were often not at all what they said they were, or that

they were contaminated with organisms that could act as pathogens in

susceptible people, " Dr. Sheryl Berman of Bastyr University in Kenmore,

Washington told Reuters Health.

Specifically, Berman and co-author Diane Spicer found that 16 of the 20

samples of the supplements contained ingredients that were not listed on the

label, and 6 samples included an organism that could cause people to fall

ill. For instance, the researchers found bacteria that can cause

gastrointestinal illness and, importantly, are often found to be resistant

to antibiotics.

" So we may be introducing a bug into somebody that could lead to antibiotic

resistance in that patient, " Berman warned.

Berman and Spicer presented their findings here Monday during the 130th

Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association (news - web sites).

Lactobacilli are beneficial bacteria that live in the body, generally in the

mouth, intestinal tract and vagina. People often take Lactobacillus

supplements after being on antibiotics, which can wipe out this natural

bacteria. Women who take antibiotics often lose their normal, healthy

vaginal bacteria, and take Lactobacillus supplements to restore that

balance.

However, Berman and Spicer discovered that some types of supplements may

have no benefit at all. In an interview with Reuters Health, Berman said

that she and Spicer found that 4 out of the 20 supplements tested contained

dead organisms, although Lactobacillus needs to be alive in order to work.

" It means that the organisms were in there, but they're dead, " Berman said.

" So people are meaning to get live organisms, and they're dead. "

The authors cautioned that the mistakes identified in these samples could

have occurred at any point in the manufacturing process. Consequently,

although brands tested in the study were manufactured by national companies,

because the products were bought in Seattle, it is impossible to say if the

findings apply to all Lactobacillus supplements sold throughout the US.

Berman noted that she suspected the problem stems from a lack of quality

control of the over-the-counter dietary supplements, which are not subject

to the same safety and effectiveness standards that medications face.

" They may put organisms in, but they don't check along the way that the

organisms are, first of all, what they think they are, and that there's no

contamination at every step--and that's what good quality control is, " she

said.