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Original poster

Yakult - coincidence/placebo?

19 replies

StupidFaces · 23/04/2023 09:13

I suffer with chronic constipation - the normal stool softeners don’t work with me, they just bloat me up - same with high fibre. The only thing that works is dulcolax but it’s brutal, painful and I’m tied to the toilet the whole day after taking it.

Last year I bought some Yakult - 2 days later I went to toilet, no straining, nothing. I then went to toilet almost every day whilst drinking them. Anyway in the end I stopped buying them (just forgot to buy them basically) and my constipation came back.

A few months later I bought Yakult again … started going to toilet again like a normal person.

Stopped buying them again as they were expensive. Constipation returned.

Anyway last time I was at the GP (about my iron levels) I mentioned the Yakult drinks and the effect they have on my bowels. He laughed and said they’re the biggest marketing con going, any effect they seem to have is pure coincidence.

I bought some more last weekend after being horrifically constipated for 3 weeks. Lo and behold … I’m back to pooing almost daily.

Anyone else found them to have this effect?? I wouldn’t normally question a doctor but it’s one hell of a coincidence that my constipation eases EVERYTIME I start on the Yakult!

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 23/04/2023 09:15

I buy probiotic capsules, much cheaper than Yakult and no sugar.

Starhead69 · 23/04/2023 09:16

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 23/04/2023 09:15

I buy probiotic capsules, much cheaper than Yakult and no sugar.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor Do you have a link for these please?

Theoscargoesto · 23/04/2023 09:17

Does it matter? They seem right now to be working for you. That is great. Keep taking them!

Conkersinautumn · 23/04/2023 09:19

When you say high fibre do you mean soluble fibre?

Xrays · 23/04/2023 09:21

Probiotics work for me like this, they’ve really improved my overall health - I used to get recurrent oral and oesophageal thrush as I have sjogrens and lupus and they’ve totally improved that for me. I get Biokault ones from Amazon. Cheaper than many alternatives. I just take a maintenance dose of 1 per day.

Faffertea · 23/04/2023 09:22

Not necessarily a placebo. Lots of research going on about the gut microbiome and interaction between gut health and wider body health.

I asked a microbiologist about Yakut recently in a patient with a bowel infection because when I was a junior doctor (quite a long time ago!) we used to give patients with the same infection Yakut. She said it’s better to eat a wide variety of foods especially fruits and veg of different colours (“eat the rainbow”) and there is some evidence for some fermented foods like Kimchi and Keffir improving the variety of bacteria that live in the gut.

Tim Spector doing some interesting research on this- he’s written some books.

Cocolapew · 23/04/2023 09:23

@Xrays how have they helped your Lupus?

Spottypillow · 23/04/2023 09:26

The reason people think they are a load of rubbish is that the stomach acid will kill of any live and good bacteria before it’s even reached your intestines.

If you get capsules that are reverse enteric coated then they will survive the stomach.

If the yogurts are working take them! Doesn’t matter if it’s placebo or real if it has the desired effect

Original poster
StupidFaces · 23/04/2023 09:27

Spottypillow · 23/04/2023 09:26

The reason people think they are a load of rubbish is that the stomach acid will kill of any live and good bacteria before it’s even reached your intestines.

If you get capsules that are reverse enteric coated then they will survive the stomach.

If the yogurts are working take them! Doesn’t matter if it’s placebo or real if it has the desired effect

I’ve just been reading about this and apparently the bacteria in Yakult is acid resistant?

OP posts:
35965a · 23/04/2023 09:29

If they work for you they work, keep having them.

Heroicallyfound · 23/04/2023 09:29

It might the the dairy - I find this with activia drinks but I think it’s the dairy loosening me up.

SoLongFurlough · 23/04/2023 09:32

I suffer from reflux & it's definitely not as bad if I take a yakult every morning - I swear by them!

Theunamedcat · 23/04/2023 09:32

TMI Suger makes me poo especially when I'm on a low suger diet

Emigratingimmigrant · 23/04/2023 09:35

You can try cheaper kefir and just have bit every morning. Also live fermented goods.
As pp said, gut bacteria are really important not just for digestion but immunity etc. We have everything sterilised and dead. Getting live culture in makes of course major difference.

limes6 · 23/04/2023 09:42

Spottypillow · 23/04/2023 09:26

The reason people think they are a load of rubbish is that the stomach acid will kill of any live and good bacteria before it’s even reached your intestines.

If you get capsules that are reverse enteric coated then they will survive the stomach.

If the yogurts are working take them! Doesn’t matter if it’s placebo or real if it has the desired effect

I mean the idea that all bacteria is killed in the gut is rubbish. Certainly not 100%. How would bacteria get into our gut if this was the case?

Emigratingimmigrant · 23/04/2023 09:44

Oh probiotics also help with hangovers😂
Probiotics and fiber.
That is what they sell for 💲💲💲💲 as anti hangover pills

Xrays · 23/04/2023 10:13

Cocolapew · 23/04/2023 09:23

@Xrays how have they helped your Lupus?

I think they’ve just improved my overall health, I am not as tired, I don’t have as many upset stomachs, I don’t have constant thrush (which is related to Sjögren’s which often overlaps with lupus). I sound like an advert I know 😆 but they’ve made a big difference. (Alongside HRT which has also helped with joint pain etc).

Cocolapew · 23/04/2023 10:15

Thanks, I might give them ago, I've started to get a lot of stomach upsets lately.

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