Uc Science Today

Are yogurt, kefir and other probiotics really good for you? Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, believe the benefits of these products may be overstated. Michael Cabana, a professor of pediatrics, came to this conclusion while trying to figure out if a probiotic strain called LGG helps prevent the development of eczema or asthma in kids predisposed to these diseases. “At two years of age we found that there is no difference in eczema levels between the kids. Despite the fact that previous studies have shown this probiotic strain helps prevent eczema in other countries, in the San Francisco area we didn’t find the same results.” The UCSF findings further fuel the ongoing debate about the benefits of friendly bacteria in dietary supplements. “We still learned a lot from this study and we still continue following these kids. It is probably more complicated than just giving a probiotic supplement.” Genetic factors and other types of baby food, including breast milk, also affect a c