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Medical News TodaySubscribeHow quickly do probiotics work?

Medically reviewed by Grant Tinsley, Ph.D., CSCS,*D, CISSN — Written by Jon Johnson — Updated on September 25, 2023

Definition
How quick?
Common types
How to use
Benefits
Risks
Summary

Probiotics are live microorganisms that may benefit a person’s health. For short-term relief, some probiotics may work in a few days. For chronic conditions, it may take probiotics up to a few months.

Taking probiotics may help build and restore healthy bacteria in the intestines and promote digestive health. Probiotics may quickly treat some minor issues. For example, a person with minor diarrhea may see symptoms go away in a few days. For overall digestive health, it can take a few weeks of regular use before a person notices the effects.

Continuing to use probiotics over time may be most advantageous, as it takes time for these healthy bacteria to build up and benefit the body.

In this article, we explore what probiotics are, how to use them, and how quickly they work.

Probiotics definition

A image of supplement capsules in a pot. — Image credit: Douglas Sacha / Getty Images.

Probiotics are living bacteria and yeasts that people may describe as ‘good’ or ‘friendly.’ Manufacturers of products containing probiotics may refer to them as ‘live cultures.’

Most probiotics contain microbes that thrive within the body in areas such as the small intestines and colon. Taking these probiotics may help support a healthy gut, as they allow the microbes to establish themselves in the body.

These microbes are not harmful and instead play helpful roles in the body, such as aiding digestion.

A digestive system that lacks these helpful bacteria, or has an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, is in a state of imbalance called dysbiosis. This can lead to digestive system symptoms and increase the risk for other issues.

Click here to learn more about probiotics.

How quickly do they work?

How quickly probiotics work will depend on several factors. A 2018 study found that the type of probiotic strain, health condition, product formula, product quality, and dose are all important for effectiveness.

Some may recommend probiotics for targeted therapy to treat acute symptoms, such as traveler’s diarrhea. In these cases, a person may notice the effects as soon as a few days later.

For example, older research suggests that in combination with rehydration therapy, probiotic treatment can help reduce the duration and frequency of diarrhea by 2 days.

For more chronic conditions, dysbiosis, or general immune health, it can take weeks of continuous use to see probiotics’ effects, while extended use may be better.

For example, a review in Nutrients notes that people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may notice the most benefit when taking probiotics for 8 weeks or more. A 2018 study also shows that people who consume a high-dose probiotic drink for 12 weeks had significantly fewer upper respiratory infections than a placebo group.

Continuous use of the correct probiotics may offer the best chance for symptom reduction and overall gut health.

Most common types of probiotic

Probiotics contain a variety of microorganisms. The two most common types belong to groups called Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

Lactobacillus

Commons strains of Lactobacillus include:

Lactobacillus (L) salivarius
L. acidophilus
L. paracasei
L. fermentium
L. brevis
L. casei
L. Sakei

Bifidobacterium

Some common strains of Bifidobacterium include:

Bifidobacterium (B) bifidum
B. longum
B. breve
B. animalis

How to use

Probiotics are usually added to certain foods or are available as supplements.

Eating probiotic foods

Some foods may naturally contain probiotics, while some companies may add them to products during the manufacturing process. Fermented and dairy foods are common sources of probiotics. These include:

yogurt
cottage cheese
sauerkraut
kefir
kombucha
pickled vegetables
fermented soy products, including tempeh, miso, and natto

Click here to learn more about probiotic foods.

Click here to learn more about vegan probiotic options.

Probiotic supplements

People can also take probiotic supplements, which come in various levels of different strains. These are typically available in capsule form.

Supplements are a simple way to get large amounts of healthy microbes into the body. However, it is important that people follow the instructions and take the correct dosage.

Benefits

Probiotics may have several benefits due to how they interact with the body. While they may affect many systems and organs, the main advantages of probiotic use focus on aiding gut flora and digestive health.

A study in Medicine notes that they may play a role in several digestive issues, such as:

traveler’s diarrhea
diarrhea from antibiotics
IBS
Crohn’s disease
ulcerative colitis

However, the study researchers call for more long-term research into chronic digestive conditions, as there is limited evidence to make any claims about probiotic use.

A 2018 review notes the benefits of taking probiotics :

overall gut bacteria
immune system health
bowel movements
stool consistency
vaginal health

It is important to note that these effects persist for as long as the person takes probiotics. Also, there is limited evidence discussing the long-term benefits, so more research is necessary.

Risks

Probiotics are generally safe. However, taking them in large doses may cause minor symptoms in some people, such as gas or bloating.

There are some rare side effects associated with probiotics, generally where the person has underlying issues.

These side effects include:

sepsis
endocarditis
abscess in the liver
fungal overgrowth

People who are critically ill or have conditions that compromise their immune system should not take probiotics. Additionally, the potential risks of probiotic use in pregnant or breastfeeding people are not well-understood.

Click here to learn more about the potential side effects of probiotics.

Summary

Probiotics are live microbes that may positively influence the body. They may help improve markers of digestive health, reduce symptoms of some digestive conditions, and improve the immune system.

For short-term symptom relief, such as reducing diarrhea, some probiotics may work in as little as a few days. For chronic conditions or general immune health, it may be most beneficial to take probiotics for weeks or months at a time.

Most people can tolerate probiotics well, and they can help restore or balance the healthy gut microbiome. However, some may wish to discuss probiotics with their doctor before they incorporate them into their diet.

GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Immune System / Vaccines
Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Nutrition / Diet

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Allen, S. J., et al. (2010). Probiotics for treating acute infectious diarrhoea.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6532699/pdf/CD003048.pdf
Carding, S., et al. (2015). Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in disease.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4315779/
Dale, H. F., et al. (2019). Probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: An up-to-date systematic review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6769995/
Health benefits of taking probiotics. (2020).https://www.health.harvard.edu/vitamins-and-supplements/health-benefits-of-taking-probiotics
Ilinskaya, O. N., et al. (2017). Secretome of intestinal Bacilli: A natural guard against pathologies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5586196/
Islam, S. U. (2016). Clinical uses of probiotics. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4748908/
Kelesidis, T., & Pothoulakis, C. (2012). Efficacy and safety of the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii for the prevention and therapy of gastrointestinal disorders. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3296087/
Khalesi, S., et al. (2019). A review of probiotic supplementation in healthy adults: Helpful or hype? https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-018-0135-9
O'Callaghan, A., & van Sinderen, D. (2016). Bifidobacteria and their role as members of the human gut microbiota. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4908950/
Probiotics: What you need to know. (2019).https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know
Shahrokhi, M., & Nagalli, S. (2020). Probiotics.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553134/
Sniffen, J. C., et al. (2018). Choosing an appropriate probiotic product for your patient: An evidence-based practical guide.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0209205
Song, M., et al. (2015). Characterization of selected Lactobacillus strains for use as probiotics. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4662139/
Zhang H, et al. (2018). Prospective study of probiotic supplementation results in immune stimulation and improvement of upper respiratory infection rate.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5995450/pdf/main.pdf

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Medically reviewed by Grant Tinsley, Ph.D., CSCS,*D, CISSN — Written by Jon Johnson — Updated on September 25, 2023

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Tag » How Long For Probiotics To Work

How Long Does It Take For Probiotics To Start ... - Medical News Today

Probiotics definition

How quickly do they work?

Most common types of probiotic

Lactobacillus

Bifidobacterium

How to use

Eating probiotic foods

Probiotic supplements

Benefits

Risks

Summary

How we reviewed this article:

Latest news

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