Should military dining facilities offer and promote consumption of probiotic-containing foods?
Probiotics are defined as "live organisms which, when administered in adequate amounts confer a benefit on the host." The purpose of this review was to determine whether there is evidence-based justification to recommend purchase and promotion of probiotic-containing food in military dining facilities (DFACs). Peer-reviewed literature was searched to identify well-conducted systematic reviews and original research related to the efficacy of probiotics in preventing and/or treating acute infectious diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, respiratory tract infections, allergic rhinitis, dental health issues, and female urogenital conditions. Probiotics may be useful for preventing and/or treating military-relevant health conditions. However, the available scientific evidence is not sufficient to warrant widespread procurement and promotion of probiotic-containing food items in military DFACs. Health care practitioners considering recommending probiotics should understand that health effects and clinical outcomes discussed herein are specific to the probiotic strain, dose, and method of delivery studied in the articles cited.
Smith
Tracey J
TJ
Military Nutrition Division, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Kansas Street, Building 42, Natick, MA 01760, USA.
Margolis
Lee M
LM
Young
Andrew J
AJ
D005522:Food Services; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States