How do I know if probiotics will help or hurt my health?
UC expert featured in National Geographic article
The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's Rekha Chaudhary was featured in a National Geographic article discussing groups of people that should stay away from taking probiotic supplements.
Probiotic supplements have become more popular and touted as a miracle cure for digestive issues, mental health ailments and hormonal imbalances, but some populations like cancer patients and those who are immunocompromised can be hurt rather than helped by the supplements.
Chaudhary explained cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy could experience negative outcomes after taking probiotics. Having a wide variety of bacteria in the microbiome seems to correlate with health and wellbeing.
“But probiotics are like the lionfish of the sea,” said Chaudhary, MD, adjunct professor in UC's College of Medicine and a Cancer Center integrative oncologist. “They're an invasive, destructive species and your microbiome diversity can go markedly down when you take probiotic [supplements].”
Over-the-counter probiotics are helpful for specific situations, like infectious diarrhea, Chaudhary said. But overall the promise of these supplements has not lived up to their reality yet.
Read the National Geographic article.
Featured photo at top of probiotic bacteria. Photo/Anusorn Nakdee/iStock Photo.
Related Stories
Why so much hype around the new Grand Theft Auto?
November 6, 2026
UC experts from DAAP's game and animation program to a doctor at the Lindner Center of HOPE discuss the pros and cons surrounding the upcoming billion-dollar game Grand Theft Auto VI.
Are you experiencing “post-election stress disorder”?
November 6, 2026
Feelings of stress and anxiety tied to election results can persist even after the votes are counted, said University of Cincinnati psychiatrist Julia Stimpfl, MD, even though “post-election stress disorder” is not officially recognized as a mental illness. As she recently told Spectrum News 1 Ohio, those feelings can linger even after an election is finalized.
New UC research identifies biological differences in pancreatic cancer
November 6, 2026
University of Cincinnati Cancer Center research published in Cancer Research found differences in pancreatic cancer tumors and immune environments, opening the possibility for more personalized treatments.