Probiotics: beware of information from the Internet

Anyone looking for information about probiotics on the Internet, you run the risk of encountering unreliable websites, their statements are often not supported by solid scientific evidence. This is the result of a British study.

The study in the journal "Frontiers in Medicine" has shown that in the case of the Internet, to probiotics, many websites from commercial sources appear to be search, the often-incomplete information and not to the potential side effects instructions. Professor Pietro Ghezzi of the Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the UK, said: "We also found many websites that indicate the benefits of probiotics in diseases for which there are, except in mice, but only a few scientific documents to a high level."

Commercial websites or health portals?

Since most people search with Google-only the first hit of view, is the order of the displayed sites is very important. Ghezzi stated that Google has developed for the Ranking of health-related web sites criteria are very strict: "Google to prioritize websites that contain more comprehensive and scientifically more informed information on probiotics, in particular, health portals, and these are ranked higher than commercial Websites." However, the quantity of commercial information was problematic for consumers who are looking for honest answers, and we should always come behind to ask where the information.

Unrealistic expectations due to incorrect information?

Probiotics are living organisms, which could promote the health. Ghezzi and his colleagues had the fear that the Internet is unrealistic expectations on the positive effects of probiotics. Therefore, you have the first 150 web sites that a Google search for after "Probiotika" as the results were displayed, the quality, and the alleged Use in the case of diseases is examined. Then, they tested the extent to which there was scientific evidence for the alleged health Benefits.

ZOU