Many people take probiotics( gummies, yogurt, kefir etc.) to aid in their digestion and gut health. To my knowledge, bacteria has to reach the large intestine to have any benefit. Before reaching the large intestine, bacteria has to go through the stomach. There is HCL secreted there which would give the stomach contents a pH from 1.5 to3.5.
How does the bacteria survive that low of a pH?
In: Biology
A lot of the major “probiotic” species are actually pretty acid-resistant. However, you are completely right in that a lot of commercial supplements probably…don’t survive.
Also, not a doctor but I am a med student and there’s very little evidence that these probiotic supplements do anything useful.
I don’t know if it’s opinion or fact but my physician told me that things like probiotic yogurts are practically worthless because so few of them survive the stomach, you’re much better off taking probiotic capsules which have time to reach the intestines before letting loose their load.
My assumption is that because they number in the billions that some of them just survive thru sheer numbers
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