Probiotics for Gas, Bloating and Abdominal Pain

Using probiotics to alleviate gas, bloating and digestive discomfort has been found effective in clinical studies. Probiotics are the healthy bacteria that populate the human gastrointestinal tract and help in digesting foods.

Upper intestinal gas may be caused by swallowing excess amounts of air while eating, drinking or chewing gum. Lower intestinal gas is the result of the bacterial digestion of food that has not been broken down until it reaches the colon. Lower intestinal gas consists of hydrogen, carbon dioxide and in some cases methane.

Eating certain foods can cause lower intestinal gas or flatulence. This includes beans and lentils, lactose dairy products and foods containing the sweeteners fructose or sorbitol.

A number of probiotic supplements have been identified as effective for reducing gassiness and flatulence. However, some individuals experience a worsening of gas when first using probiotics. This tends to dissipate following regular use.

Probiotics

Digestive Supplement

Gut Health

Digestion

Immune Function

How It Works:

• Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
• Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
• Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism

Dosage:

Between 1 - 10 Billion CFUs per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

Top Probiotics Products* ❯

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What Causes Gas?

Excessive stomach gas can be both socially embarrassing as well as uncomfortable. It may also be a sign of internal dysbiosis.

Dysbiosis refers to a state of imbalance in the gut microflora – the community of bacteria and other microorganisms that live within the human gastrointestinal tract.

The intestines are populated by more than 400 different bacteria species, some of which have a probiotic (health-boosting) effect and others of which have a pathogenic (disease-causing) effect.

It is important to maintain a healthy balance between the probiotic and pathogenic bacteria in the microflora to prevent disease and digestive dysfunction.

Certain microorganisms are linked to increased production of gas. Combatting or controlling the growth of these organisms can help to prevent and relieve symptoms of gas, pain and bloating after eating.

Common Sources of Gas

There are also several digestive conditions that may cause intestinal gas such as Celiac disease and Dumping Syndrome where food goes into small intestines undigested.

This may happen after gastric surgery or after eating foods with refined sugars that absorb water rapidly from the body. Dairy products and fried foods also may cause this condition.

Other conditions that may cause intestinal gas are food allergies, GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease), Gastroparesis (food passes through slowly), IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), lactose intolerance and a peptic ulcer.

Changes in diet can relieve intestinal gas. If intestinal gas is associated with constipation, diarrhea, blood in the stool, heart burn, unintended weight loss or vomiting a doctor should be consulted.

What Foods Cause Gas After Eating?

Fructose and sorbitol are two food ingredients that are associated with gas and bloating. Using a probiotic when consuming foods high in these ingredients may help to reduce transit time and improve digestion.

Fructose is present in honey, berries, and fruits from trees and vines. It is also found in flowers and root vegetables. For commercial use, fructose is processed from sugar beets, sugar canes and corn (as in high-fructose corn syrup or HFCS).

Malabsorption of fructose happens when it is not digested in the small intestines and goes into the large intestines. Here, the fructose ferments with the microflora present there.

This process causes bloating, diarrhea, flatulence and gastrointestinal pain. Exercise after eating fructose increases these symptoms because the transit time in the small intestines has been reduced.

Sorbitol is usually sourced from corn syrup, but it is also present in apples, pears, peaches and prunes.

Sorbitol may aggravate IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and other gastrointestinal conditions. Eating large amounts of sorbitol (20 grams a day) has caused abdominal pain, flatulence and mild to severe diarrhea.

Best Probiotics for Gas

A number of different probiotics have been identified as having positive effects on digestive gas. Probiotics work by improving certain digestive processes and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria that can exacerbate gassiness.
Preliminary clinical evidence shows taking the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii relieves the symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, dyspepsia (indigestion in the upper abdomen), and improves bowel movements for people with IBS.

A study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology in March 2015 found that those given Saccharomyces boulardii experienced less bloating and distension of IBS.

A study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology in October 2014 confirmed that probiotics use had beneficial outcomes on IBS and CIC (chronic idiopathic constipation).

The probiotic treatment reduced abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence and increased the number of stools per week when measured as part of the study.

A study published in a Spanish medical journal in January 2013 reported that distension showed improvement with the probiotics Bifidobacterium breve , Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus casei or Lactobacillus plantarum.

All of the following probiotic species were found to improve flatulence symptoms: Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, L. casei, L. plantarum, B. longum, L. acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus salivarius ssp. Thermophilus.

When deciding on the best probiotic supplement for gas after eating, it is recommended to look for supplements that combine multiple strains of probiotics together. These supplements are considered more effective than single-strain probiotic products.

Probiotics Safety Concerns

When used appropriately, probiotics are considered safe for health adults who are not immunocompromised. Few side effects are reported, though some individuals do experience gas, abdominal pain and bloating when first using a probiotic.

This is usually due to the body adjusting to the probiotic supplement. These symptoms dissipate following a few days of use. For this reason, it may be necessary to use a probiotic for at least one or two weeks before evaluating to determine whether it is working for you.

Probiotics should not be taken by those with immune compromised conditions, including patients with HIV, organ donors or anyone using immunosuppressant medicines.

People with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) or those using a catheter should also avoid probiotics. Probiotics will interact with antibiotics and they should be taken at least two hours apart to prevent negative effects on the probiotic bacteria.

The probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii may cause fungemia for those using an intravascular catheter. The risk is increased if antibiotic therapy is also being used at the same time.

Probiotics for gas provides relief from the discomfort of this condition. Finding the cause of the intestinal gas is also important so the situations producing the intestinal gas are either avoided or treated.

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