I'm immunosuppressed. Are live cultures safe?

Patients who are severely immunocompromised or immunosuppressed do not have the ability to mount an appropriate response to any microbe that they come in contact with. Specialised cells in the intestine (M Cells & Peyers patches) are continually sampling the intestinal lumen for antigens (food or microbes). Microbes, even those that are normally neutral or considered beneficial, can sometimes cross the gut barrier and grow in the blood or in the internal organs where the nutrients are high and the competition for nutrients is low. Growth in these areas can cause septicaemia, fungemia, abscesses, myo-endocarditis (infection of the heart), or pancreatitis.

There may in fact be a benefit in taking live cultures for patients with severe immunosuppression, but the risk is also thought to be high in many circumstances. Because there is currently insufficient clinical evidence around this area, we would not recommend live cultures for individuals who are severely immunocompromised or immunosuppressed.

For further information about live cultures and immunity, healthcare practitioners might wish to look at Probiotic Professionals. 

You may also like to read: Are there any side effects from probiotics?

Author: Joanna Scott-Lutyens, BA (hons), DipION, Nutritional Therapist.