Consumers who have not signed up for the Mayo Clinic’s monthly newsletter may have missed out on an introduction to the benefits of probiotics, "good bacteria" that can benefit digestive health.

Doctors there reviewed clinical data and say that while the mechanism of the bacteria is not clear yet, the effects on treating and perhaps preventing infections like diarrhea are.

Supplementation, either through products that contained increased amounts of probiotics or other means, could benefit Americans looking to limit the risk for vaginal or bladder conditions, with initial research that has shown initial promise for the use of the bacteria in treating those infections.

It has been suggested that probiotics may be able to calm the immune system by limiting flare-ups caused by diseases, the scientists noted.

Patients who may be taking antibiotics could take probiotics to enhance compliance with the prescription drug, according to research from Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

The data supports the idea that patients given the supplement are less likely to develop stomach irritability or other side effects of prescription antibiotics, which may help them finish the full course of drugs prescribed by a doctor.