Probiotics: A Possible Solution for Tummy Troubles

Gastrointestinal issues are more common than most people think -- in fact, they wreak havoc on the lives of more than 65 million Americans each year. And a new survey indicates that women and children are often without relief.

The Culturelle Stop Suffering Survey found that 38 percent of American women between the ages 21 and 40 are dissatisfied with their current over the counter and doctor recommended treatments for their stomach and intestinal problems. Additionally, one in four moms of children with ongoing tummy issues report the same dilemma.

GI issues are more than just a pain

Lost income, disciplinary problems at work and even job loss have arisen from persistent gastrointestinal issues said some women who were surveyed. And as if that weren't enough, a quarter of these women report their symptoms have caused rifts in their intimate relationships. Half of women surveyed said their social lives have been affected as well.

When tummy problems strike children, moms surveyed said it's up them to come to the rescue. Forty percent of moms said their kids' issues have them up multiple times a night on a regular basis. Many also said they have had to alter work and social plans to pick up their child from school because of their tummy troubles.

Probiotics could help, but few have tried them

Yet despite frustration with ongoing symptoms, the survey also revealed that the majority of those suffering haven't tried a potential solution that's worked for Europeans and Asians for decades -- probiotics.

"It's a little-known fact that digestive issues usually occur when you don't have enough 'good bacteria' in the intestine to keep harmful bacteria and germs in check. Probiotic supplements are an excellent source of these good bacteria and can help restore and maintain good health to the intestinal tract," says pediatrician and author Dr. William Sears. "Many of my patients have actually seen a dramatic improvement by simply adding a probiotic like Culturelle brand probiotic with LGG to their diets and seeing as it is generally recognized as safe by the FDA, I can confidently recommend it to my patients for a variety of issues."

And while almost one-third of the women surveyed said they've heard of probiotics -- and how they work for their most common complaints of occasional diarrhea, bowel regularity and constipation -- just one out of ten women reporting awareness has tried probiotics. Even fewer, only eight percent, have given probiotics to their children.

Dr. Sears says probiotics can help with many common gastrointestinal problems like antibiotic-induced diarrhea, bowel inflammatory diseases like IBS, irregularity and more. But the key is choosing a probiotic that contains the right amount of good bacteria, and has the most clinically researched strain.

"One of my favorite teaching phrases for probiotics is that 'you have to put the right bugs in your bowels. And just because the label says 'probiotic' doesn't mean it's going to a good job. Not all strains of probiotic survive stomach acid and even make it to the intestinal tract where they go to work. The probiotic I most frequently recommend is Culturelle, which uses the good bacterial strain Lactobacillus GG and has more than 200 studies to back it up."