GLOSSARY

Probiotics groups preparations or organisms meeting probiotic criteria, without identical effects across products.

Probiotics require live microorganisms, an appropriate amount and demonstrated health benefit for the intended use. Not every fermented food or live bacterium meets that definition. Identify genus, species and strain and match the studied outcome to the goal. Evidence for one digestive or immune application does not guarantee greater strength or endurance in every athlete, nor does it make all products bearing the word equivalent.

Strain, dose, duration and study population are central to probiotic evidence. More strains or a larger colony count is not automatically better; mixtures need their own support. Temporary stool detection differs from lasting establishment or proven benefit. If used, define the goal and response beforehand. Starting immediately before competition leaves little opportunity to assess tolerance and does not reproduce a trial simply by matching a species name.

Colony-forming units estimate organisms able to grow under specified culture conditions; a cell cluster may produce one colony, so this is not an exact total-cell count. Viability at use, storage and product age matter. A manufacturing count does not establish an end-of-shelf-life amount. People with severe illness or immune impairment need separate safety assessment rather than automatically following advice intended for healthy athletes.