Supplement

Probiotics for women

Probiotics as a category carry no authorised EFSA health claim in the UK, so a product cannot legally state it supports gut health, digestion or immunity generally. The one narrow, authorised exception is that live yoghurt or fermented milk cultures improve lactose digestion in people who have difficulty digesting lactose. Individual strains have been researched for specific uses, but no general claim has cleared the regulatory bar. Check the CFU count and named strain on the label, not just the word probiotic, and speak to your GP or pharmacist before starting one for a specific condition.

What it does

Here we have to be straight with you. Unlike a nutrient such as calcium or vitamin D, probiotics have no general authorised EFSA health claim:

• In short, probiotics as a category carry no authorised EFSA health claim, so a product cannot legally state it supports gut health, immunity or digestion in the UK.

That means we cannot tell you probiotics support gut health, reduce bloating or boost immunity, and any product that implies otherwise is overstating the position under UK/EU rules. We explain it so you can recognise marketing that runs ahead of what is authorised, not to say the underlying research on specific strains doesn't exist.

Who it is for

People take probiotics for many different reasons, from general wellbeing to a specific digestive symptom to alongside a course of antibiotics. Because the right strain and evidence base differs by reason, a probiotic chosen off a general "gut health" marketing claim is not the same decision as one chosen with a GP or pharmacist for a specific issue.

What to look for when buying

• Be cautious of marketing: because there is no authorised EFSA claim for probiotics generally, promises about gut health, bloating or immunity go beyond what the rules allow. The one narrow exception is a specific authorised claim that live yoghurt or fermented milk cultures improve lactose digestion in people who have difficulty digesting lactose.
• Check the CFU (colony-forming units) count and the named strain on the label; "probiotic" alone tells you very little, since different strains have been studied for different things.
• Refrigeration and expiry matter for live-culture products; a product stored or shipped incorrectly may not deliver the CFU count printed on the label.
• If you are taking probiotics alongside antibiotics or for a specific digestive condition, speak to your GP or pharmacist, since the right strain and timing depend on the reason you are taking it.

Named UK brands to compare

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Frequently asked questions

This is information, not medical advice, and is not a substitute for a registered clinician. Persistent digestive symptoms should be checked with a GP rather than self-treated with a supplement.