Supplements can be deadly

The use of dietary supplements, probiotics (live cultures of beneficial strains of bacteria and yeast), in accordance with the advertising claims included, improves the immune system, contributes to the overall improvement and strengthening of the body, normalizes gastrointestinal tract. Despite the fact that experts have repeatedly pointed to the lack of results from large clinical trials. Now available to scientists quite reliable, but is not optimistic seemed information. It turns out that in some patients after the health of probiotics not only not improved, but on the contrary, is much worse. Dutch researchers from the Medical Center of the University of Utrecht from 2004 to 2007 on the basis of several clinics followed 296 patients with acute pancreatitis. In parallel with the traditional treatment of the patients were given supplements with probiotics, and some - a placebo. As a result of the experimental group 24 deaths, compared with 9 was recorded in the control group, 31 percent ICU required (as compared to 24 in the control group), 18 per cent - urgent surgery (as compared to 10). At the time of the experiment, no significant differences in the state of health of the patients were not recognized in the experimental and control groups. The results, published in the online version of The Lancet, was so convincing that the doctors for a similar study that was conducted Czech experts completed required. The mechanism of the influence of probiotics cause pancreatitis unresolved. The scientists added that taking probiotics can be very dangerous in the presence of gallstones, as well as against the use of high doses of alcohol.