Health officials eye the evidence on probiotics

The FDA and the NIH’s infectious disease branch are convening a workshop today on probiotics and other products with live bacteria being used to prevent and treat diseases. There's growing interest in the potential health benefits of probiotics, but some experts say there’s a need for much more research. At today’s meeting, experts will talk about the evidence that live bacteria can be beneficial for certain conditons, like neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. Dr. Pieter Cohen, who studies supplements at Harvard Medical School, said he hopes “the FDA will focus on how to modernize its antiquated approach to ensuring probiotic safety and ensure that only high-quality products are available to consumers.”