Do Probiotics Manufacturers Slip In Gluten Contrary to Label Claims?

Probiotics are meant to improve the gut but more than half of popular brands in the market can actually make it worse.

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center analyzed 22 popular probiotic products to find that 55 % contained gluten though the labels say otherwise. People with celiac disease can be allergic to gluten but are often prescribed probiotics to improve gut health.

"We see a lot of patients [with celiac] and we have a lot of patients who have it and don't feel better. We found previously that about 25% of celiac patients use supplements or non-traditional medical products, and probiotics were the largest and most frequently consumed. Those people [who used probiotics] had more symptoms compared to people who weren't taking these supplements," Dr. Peter Green, director of the Celiac Disease Center, told TIME.

Dr. Green's team found that all but four products labeled gluten-free, contained less than 20 parts per million of gluten, a concentration within prescribed limits. He however warned people with gluten allergy and celiac disease to take a cautious approach to probiotics as their benefits are yet to be clearly established.

"People have great faith in natural products, and that's why a lot of people eat probiotics. They should be studied and they should be regulated," he reportedly said.