ABSTRACT
Buying a probiotic product takes a little more effort than the typical medication obtained from a pharmacist. When a prescription drug or over-the-counter drug is purchased in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the product‧s manufacturer have determined that it is clinically effective for what it claims to treat or prevent and is reasonably safe to take. In contrast, dietary supplements, such as probiotics, are not subject to this high standard of guarantee. They may be of high quality—many are—but the regulations and requirements for drugs and dietary supplements differ. The consumer should be better informed about these types of supplements. The authors believe that after reading this book, the consumer will be better equipped to buy a product that is both effective and safe.
