Probiotic supplements may be linked to brain fogginess

Consuming too much of probiotics can cause

brain

fogginess and disorientation, as well as rapid belly bloating, according to scientists who advise people against self-prescribing ‘good’ bacteria.


In a study of 30 patients, researchers found that 22 who reported problems such as confusion and difficulty concentrating, in addition to their gas and bloating, were all taking probiotics, some several varieties. When the researchers looked further, they found large colonies of bacteria breeding in the patients’ small intestines, and high levels of D-lactic

acid

being produced by the bacteria lactobacillus’

fermentation

of sugars in their food, said Satish SC Rao, from

Augusta University

in the US.

While probiotics can be beneficial in some scenarios, like helping a patient restore his gut bacteria after taking antibiotics, researchers advised caution against its excessive and indiscriminate use. The study was published in ‘Clinical and Translational

Gastroenterology

’.