Safety concerns of Probiotic use: A review

Abstract

Every day, millions of people consume probiotics for their perceived health benefits, but how safe are probiotics? Do probiotics cause invasive infection and if so, who is at risk? There is considerable interest in probiotics for a variety of medical conditions, and millions of people around the world consume probiotics daily for perceived health benefits. Lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and lactococci have generally been regarded as safe. There are 3 theoretical concerns regarding the safety of probiotics: (a) the occurrence of disease, such as bacteremia or endocarditis; (b) toxic or metabolic effects on the gastrointestinal tract; and (c) the transfer of antibiotic resistance in the gastrointestinal flora. So, in order to deliver appropriate probiotic therapy both medical and dental practitioners should be aware of the adverse effects associated with probiotic use