The $50 billion US probiotics market is backed by multiple studies showing they prevent harmful bacteria in the body and constipation, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, supports vitamin production, and boost the immune system, according to a December 19 2023 article in The Conversation.

However, other studies highlight the limitations probiotics have to address specific health issues. They are only as helpful as they are live active cultures. Is there a way to measure the efficacy of probiotics?

Clemson University’s Carlos Garcia and George Chumanov created a sensor tool from electrically charged carbon that detects the metabolic activity of bacteria through oxidation reduction, per the Conversation.

For testing, they used popular probiotic yogurt and beer, widely sold in U.S. stores using their test tool.

While the test does not distinguish the type of species such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces, it determines their level of metabolic activity. Before creating this tool, monitoring probiotics has been extensive and costly.

https://theconversation.com/how-active-are-the-microorganisms-in-your-yogurt-we-created-a-new-tool-to-study-probiotic-activity-and-made-it-out-of-cardboard-219284


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