Translating probiotic science into practice

Scientific and clinical evidence on the health effects of probiotics has expanded rapidly in recent years and points towards benefits for a number of specific health conditions, particularly those related to the gut. Healthcare professionals are important conduits in the transfer of evidence-based messages on probiotics, but research indicates many do not consider themselves to have good knowledge in this area. To identify potential solutions to support healthcare professionals, the British Nutrition Foundation held a one-day roundtable event on 7 February 2019 to gather expert views on the content of, and best delivery mode for, evidence-based resources to guide healthcare professional advice about the use of probiotics. This report describes the main themes emerging from the discussions and the group’s recommendation for the development of a UK-focused online toolkit for healthcare professionals, which assimilates, appraises and translates current scientific knowledge of probiotics to promote evidence-based practice for the benefit of patients.