The human gut microbiota harbor trillions of microflora that can provide benefits such as protection against infection from other microbes, stimulating immune function [1] . The microbial imbalance occurs when antibiotic used and consequently this lead to a decrease in the normal flora which may result in gastroenteritis and diarrhea [2] [3]. Addressing this dysbiosis may introduce an external supplementation with beneficial micro-organisms in the form of probiotic. The term probiotic refers to “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host” [4]. It has been proposed that probiotics have therapeutic effects for a wide range of medical conditions and helpful in maintaining a healthy and well balance gut flora. Establishing the health benefits of probiotics among health care provider (HCPs) can be positive for patients. It might contribute to a change in their dietary practices and reduce the risk of nutrition-related chronic disease. There is no data assessing knowledge and perceptions of probiotics by HCPs in KSA despite the increase in their availability to the consumers. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices among HCPs in KSA.
A cross sectional study were conducted on Health care providers in Riyadh hospitals. The data were collected using a semi structured online questionnaire related to the definition, health benefits and the perceptions about probiotics. Data were collected and analysed using SPSS PC+ version 21.0 statistical software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). 
Mean, standard deviation, frequency counts and percentages were used to present the demographic features of the participating professionals. Analysis of variance and Tukey multiple comparison test were used to evaluate probiotics knowledge considering the demography of more two (2) sub-categories. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the possible relationship between probiotics knowledge scores and chosen demographic variables. Statistical results were considered to be significant at p≤ 0.05. 


A total of 333 health professionals participated which was about 95.7% from the original number of submitted responses. Results of the study revealed dominance of females (52.3%), aged between 30-44 years old (62.8%), mostly nurses (46.8%), and of professional experience at 10-19 years (37.5%). (85.3%)  of the participants were aware of the difinitions of probiotics, , 77.5% were having no concerns in the use of probiotics.  As per perceptions about probiotics, it was viewed as not harmful to health (64.0%); beneficial to gut health and IBS (42.6% and 32.4% respectively); and lastly viewed as not beneficial to obesity (24.9%), allergies (28.5%), and heart diseases (36.3%). With α = .05, there were significant differences on probiotics knowledge i.e., benefits to obesity (p= .006), allergy (p= .036), Crohn’s disease (p=.026) & heart disease (p= .002) when grouped according to gender. And when grouped according to profession (Physician Vs. Non-physician), statistical differences appeared also on knowledge on probiotics benefits to allergies and Crohn’s disease both with p= .033. A great majority of respondents said no concerns on probiotics use (77.5%), and if they have it was minor concerns about safety (8.45%).

In conclusion, according to our results, HCPs in Saudi Arabia had an acceptable level of knowledge about probiotics. However, a moderate knowledge of the effect of probiotics on health. Significant differences between the knowledge of probiotics and demographic variables.


1-	Shu, Q. and H.S. Gill, FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 2002. 34(1): p. 59-64. 
2-	Simadibrata1,M. Suzanna Ndraha, S. Robert Tedjasaputra, R. Syam A,F,. Santi, A,F. and Aziz RanI,A. J. Clin. Med. Res. 5 (2), 23-28.
3-	  Johnston BC, Supina AL, Ospina M, et al. (2007) Cochrane Database Syst. Rev, CD004827. 4- FAO/WHO, Health and Nutritional Properties of Probiotics in Food including Powder Milk with Live Lactic Acid Bacteria. 2001, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Available at: http://ftp.fao.org/es/esn/food/wgreport2.pdf.

Investigation of health care providers’ knowledge of probiotics in KSA

The gastrointestinal tract is amongst the most densely populated ecosystems on earth, home to an abundant and diverse collection of microbial species, not just bacteria but also Archaea, viruses, fungi etc. Significant interest in this area has been sparked in recent years by an appreciation of the importance of the gut microbiota in the health of the host, and this has led to the microbiome of humans and animals being investigated in depth. Studies have drawn links between host nutrition, the gut microbiota and metabolic and immune functions, which in consequence affect physiology.



The first investigations of the structure of the microbiota were culture-based, however the introduction of sequencing technologies such as Sanger sequencing and subsequent development of 454 sequencing and metagenomics approaches have become the mainstay of microbiota studies. The creation of reference databases and analysis software has provided invaluable tools for assigning taxonomy to generated data. Great progress in characterising the structure of the microbiome recently has paved the way for ongoing and future studies on the functional interactions between the microbiota and the host. Studies on the function of the microbiota are critical in understanding the role of the microbiota in human homeostasis and disease pathogenesis.



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