Spore based probiotics contain bacteria that originate from the soil. You will find them in probiotic products such as Megasporebiotic and Bio-Kult. The names of bacteria to look out for include but may not be limited to bacillus subtilis, bacillus indicus, bacillus coagulans and bacillus clausii. There is some evidence that these spore based probiotics can help balance gut flora and aid gastrointestinal issues (1) (2). Although these bacteria originate from the soil, they have been found in intestinal tracts of animals (3).
However, under certain circumstances these types of bacteria may pose a health risk. The reason why they are included in probiotics is that the strains themselves are virtually indestructible. However, this also means that they can be resistant to antibiotics. This may sound like a good thing, but in some situations where a person’s body is compromised e.g. a person has a serious illness or car accident for instance, these types of bacterium can multiply in the body and cause an infection. Once these bugs turn from good to bad for the body, the resulting infection may be not treatable and there has been an instance of this resulting in death (4). This issue is discussed in further depth here (5).
Many would argue that this may only become an issue under very specific circumstances and the possibility of these circumstances arising is remote. However, no one can predict the future and if these circumstances might arise. Whether or not you are happy to consume spore based probiotics depends on your level of tolerance for risk.
IBS Researcher 