By Professor Ingvar Bjarnason,

Department of Gastroenterology, King’s College Hospital, London

Author: Professor Ingvar Bjarnason has been recognised as one of the top gastroenterologists in the UK and authored over 250 peer reviewed clinical papers. Internationally known for integrating research with clinical work, he brings over 25 years’ experience to his position as a world leader in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease), the investigation and treatment of small bowel diseases (such as NSAID-enteropathy) and many other aspects of gastrointestinal disease.

Target audience: For healthcare professionals interested in learning about probiotics and their effects on the gut microbiome

Learning objectives:

By the end of this article, you should:

- Understand the ideal characteristics of a probiotic.

- Be aware of the importance of formulation.

- Recognise the considerations for use in clinical practice.