ReviewFrontiers in microbiology2020
Criteria to Qualify Microorganisms as "Probiotic" in Foods and Dietary Supplements.
Review in Frontiers in microbiology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 235 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
235 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- A Systematic Review on Effect of Bifidobacterium Isolated from Skin Microbiota on GLP-1 Production to Alleviate Human Ailments.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Pooled it
- The Effect of Probiotic Lactobacillus Strains on Porphyromonas gingivalis, the Etiological Factor of Periodontal Diseases-A Systematic Review.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Pooled it
- Probiotic intake and mental health in healthy working adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.BMC psychology · 2026Pooled it
- Long-term safety and clinical effects of probiotic supplementation in at-risk populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Efficacy of fermented foods for the prevention and treatment of bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Pooled it
- Clinical efficacy of probiotic supplementation in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis.Frontiers in microbiology · 2025Pooled it
- Isolation, Characterization and Molecular Identification of Putative Probiotic Bacteria From Red Tilapia Gut.Environmental microbiology reports · 2026Article
- Review
- Non-Conventional Yeasts with Probiotic Potential: Diversity, Functional Role, Sustainable Bioprocessing and Local Relevance.Microorganisms · 2026Review
- Encapsulation of probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum S18 in sodium alginate: process optimization using Box-Behnken design for poultry feed application.Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology] · 2026Article
- Evaluating the probiotic potential of Bacillus pumilus HFS2 isolated from the gut microbiota of Heteropneustes fossilis for aquaculture applications.Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology · 2026Article
- Exploring the emerging role of CRISPR-Cas systems in probiotic development.Engineering microbiology · 2026Review
- Dates, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Dietary Fiber, and Probiotics as Potential Complementary Modulators of Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Stress: An Integrative Review.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Safety and Effectiveness of Probiotic Preparations: A Contemporary Review.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Relevant Probiotic and Functional Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Aquaculture Environments on the Ivory Coast for Potential Aquaponic Applications.Microorganisms · 2026Article
- Wildlife-derived Lactobacillus agilis LA-V4 alleviates Salmonella Typhimurium infection in broilers through gut microbiota remodeling and hepatic autophagy restoration.Poultry science · 2026Article
- Probiotic Human Study Design and Reporting (PRODARE): Recommendations to Improve Research Practice.Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) · 2026Review
- Dietary supplementation with natto fermented by Bacillus subtilis var. natto strain TTCC903 alleviates heat stress and improves egg production in aged laying hens.Poultry science · 2026Article
- Identification and Characterization ofMicroorganisms · 2026Article
- Dietary and Supplementation Strategies for Modulating Gut Microbiota: A Narrative Review.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
175 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Still relevant after 19 years, the FAO/WHO definition of probiotics can be translated into four simple and pragmatic criteria allowing one to conclude if specific strains of microorganisms qualify as a probiotic for use in foods and dietary supplements. Probiotic strains must be (i) sufficiently characterized; (ii) safe for the intended use; (iii) supported by at least one positive human clinical trial conducted according to generally accepted scientific standards or as per recommendations and provisions of local/national authorities when applicable; and (iv) alive in the product at an efficacious dose throughout shelf life. We provide clarity and detail how each of these four criteria can be assessed. The wide adoption of these criteria is necessary to ensure the proper use of the word probiotic in scientific publications, on product labels, and in communications with regulators and the general public.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.