What the Evidence Shows

The science is promising but specific:

• Antibiotic recovery — certain strains noticeably lower the risk of diarrhea when taken alongside antibiotics
• Irritable bowel syndrome — specific strains show modest relief from bloating and discomfort
• Infant eczema — maternal probiotics during pregnancy may reduce eczema risk in high-risk infants
• General immunity — some evidence for shorter, milder common colds

Here is the catch: benefits are strain-specific, not species-specific. A different strain of the same species may do nothing, and most commercial products do not name their strains on the label.