recently, several food products enriched with friendly bacteria have hit markets in India. The latest entrant, Yakult Danone's probiotic drink, claims that the lactose digesting bacteria added to the drink aid digestion. But there is little scientific evidence to support such claims.

Some studies have found that the probiotic bacteria in food products help digestion. But experts say the results can't be generalized since many of the studies are based on small groups of people from specific regions. It may not be applicable to people of different ethnicities with varied diets, says a report,