Washington, D.C., June 29, 2020—In response to a ‘60 Minutes’ segment on probiotics released June 28, 2020 titled, “Do Probiotics Actually Do Anything?” the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, issued the following statement:
Statement by Andrea Wong, Ph.D., senior vice president, scientific & regulatory affairs, CRN:
“The vigorous body of scientific research exploring the benefits of probiotics is providing increased understanding of the role probiotics play, not only for digestive health, but for immune function, brain health and even bone health. Probiotic use is supported both by a long history of safe use and rigorous clinical trials, and CRN underscores those beneficial effects and the safety of these products. But unfortunately, the recent news segment highlights the developing nature of the science and the lack of scientific certainty with regard to their beneficial health effects, pitting one scientist’s view against another's and leaving viewers confused about the category.
The segment does not feature any new research and only highlights previously published scientific studies, each with their own limitations. For example, one of the featured studies reviewed the effects of a specific combination of probiotic strains on how they modify the microbiome of the host, but did not measure important clinical endpoints, like the prevention of diarrhea after taking antibiotics.
Further, the segment questions the safety of probiotics and criticizes the regulation of these products. The safety of probiotics is well-established through their long history of use and safety studies. Moreover, probiotic products marketed as dietary supplements are subject to comprehensive dietary supplement regulations that include current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), testing procedures, labeling and storage requirements, and other practices enforced by regulatory agencies at both the federal and state levels. Many of the clinical endpoints questioned in the news segment involve treatment of serious diseases and medical conditions that are far beyond the purview of dietary supplements without refuting their beneficial effects for maintaining a healthy gut.
Probiotics have been shown to support good health and continue to be a growing category with consumers. Their repeated purchases and positive consumer outcomes undercut the reporter’s supposition that benefits can be attributed to a placebo effect. This segment and its featured research reinforces that probiotics work through a variety of mechanisms beyond changing the composition of the microbiome and we encourage more research into the benefits and safety of this category. CRN reminds consumers to consult their healthcare providers if they have questions about the probiotic supplements they are taking or thinking about taking in the future.”
Note to Editor: The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 150+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. Visit www.crnusa.org. Follow us on Twitter @CRN_Supplements and LinkedIn.