Latest Posts

The letter published on Gastroenterology in December 2020 brings additional arguments for the use of probiotics in prevention of diseases

In the letter of Maurizio Koch, MD, and Lucio Capurso, MD,  published on Gastroenterology in December 2020,  the Authors comment on two clinical recommendations of the American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) and bring additional arguments for the use of probiotics in the prevention of Clostridioides difficile infection, and on acute gastroenteritis in children, which are based on ...

IPA Europe webinar: Understanding Probiotics for better quality of life

Every day, European consumers are exposed to information about probiotics, probiotic products and supplements that is available on-line, along with dozens of messages and misinterpretation of the term ‘probiotic’. In the meantime, probiotic microorganisms are emerging more and more as a safe and natural strategy to support immune functions and human well-being.   In this ...

How to correctly identify Probiotic food and food supplements?

Scientific experts from IPA Europe and the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) have developed science-based criteria to provide clarity for the proper use of the term probiotic. For many years, the probiotic sector in Europe has been working proactively to support and encourage responsible production and marketing of probiotic foods and food ...

Global Analysis of Clinical Trials with Probiotics: new article

An new article co-funded by the IPA, and co-written by the IPA Scientific Committee Chair Arthur C. Ouwehand has been published on the topic of clinical trials with Probiotics. “Over 1,000 clinical studies with probiotics, registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and/or the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) of the World Health Organization, have addressed over 700 different ...

What are probiotics? Are all probiotics the same? How to choose the right probiotic?

The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) brings together global leading scientific experts, and has shifted the paradigm for how probiotics and prebiotics are studied and understood. Their recent series of highly enjoyable explainer videos represents an example of scientific communication and education. Scientists classify probiotics the same way they classify all living ...

The EFSA qualified presumption of safety (QPS) list has been updated and it includes the taxonomic revision of the Lactobacillus genus

The new situation will facilitate the more comprehensive understanding of the importance of the lactobacilli and a more detailed and reliable communication. For maintenance of continuity within the QPS list, all the strains belonging to a previous designed Lactobacillus species will be transferred to the new species. Both the previous and new names will be ...

IPA believes that “the consumer will need well balanced sources of information to be able to make an informed choice”

It is important to notice that probiotic effects are usually strain-specific, and well-characterized probiotics are safe for the general healthy population. The microbiota is a fascinating study topic and we are indeed only now starting to understand what the microbiota means for us, and the role probiotics can play. Probiotics can be, and are already, ...

IPA Europe Q&A in response to the “2020 AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Role of Probiotics in the Management of Gastrointestinal Disorders”

The recently published Clinical Practice Guidelines on the role of probiotics in the management of gastrointestinal disorders by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) contains some interesting points on the role of probiotics, but also requires some clarifications. Probiotics should not be seen as the magic solution, just as drugs are not solving all the medical ...