title: A study to find the status of probiotics in New Delhi, India and review of strains of bacteria used as probiotics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Probiotics are living microorganisms, principally bacteria, that are safe for human consumption and, when ingested in sufficient quantities, have beneficial effects on human health, beyond basic nutrition. However, in India people are not aware of their benefits and availability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To find status of probiotics in India and to assess the awareness regarding probiotics among chemists in New Delhi, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 chemist shops in different areas of New Delhi, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, which was responded by the chemist in the course of a telephonic interview. The questionnaire addressed on the availability of probiotic products at their chemist shop.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data so gathered were subjected for descriptive analysis using t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As per availability of probiotic products, total of 25 probiotic products were available at different chemist shops. None of the chemist shop had all the 25 products available. 10% shops had 75% products available and there were 5% such shops which didn't have any of the products available.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts should be made to increase the awareness among chemists about the probiotic products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, Teerthankar Mahaveer Dental College and Hospital, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sumanth M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Goenka Research Institute of Dental Sciences, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Deval Sandip
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Maharaja Ganga Singh Dental College and Research Center, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Geeta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Maharaja Ganga Singh Dental College and Research Center, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Navneet Singh
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Kathuria
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics Practitioner, Denta Zone, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Jiku
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Dental College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Vineet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhatia
keywords: Chemists; New Delhi: Telephonic interview; lactobacillus; nutrition; probiotic; probiotic products