Poland 2026: knowledge and behaviors about microbiota
The survey was conducted by Ipsos among 7,500 people in 11 countries (France, Portugal, Poland, Finland, Italy, Germany, United States, Mexico, Brazil China, and Vietnam).
Poland and microbiota: strong awareness and the highest probiotic prescription rate in Europe with behavioral change above the global average.
Summarizing Poland's results in the survey
In 2026, Poland stands out for two distinctive features: the highest probiotic prescription rate in Europe (66%), and a behavioral change rate (59%) above the global average. These results suggest a clinical culture that is genuinely active around microbiota. The limitation is educational depth: only 19% of Polish respondents received all key information from their healthcare professional. HCPs do not seem to educate patients on microbiota early development, given Polish low awareness of the first 1000 days.
1. Polish awareness of the microbiota is both strong and broad
In Poland, 74% of respondents have heard of the microbiota, above the global average of 72% and stable compared to 2025. Poland’s awareness profile is one of the more consistent in Europe: relatively strong across all microbiota types, without the skew toward the gut microbiota that characterizes other countries.
of Polish respondents have already heard of the term microbiota
(vs. 72% globally)
of them know exactly what the microbiota is
(vs. 24% globally)
over half are aware of the gut microbiota
(vs. 63% globally)
Solid awareness across microbiota types
Poland shows balanced awareness across most specific microbiotas:
- 52% are aware of the oral microbiota, on par with global average (52%);
- 49% are aware of the skin microbiota, (vs. 50% globally);
- 48% are aware of the vaginal microbiota, below global average (51%);
- 46% are aware of the lung microbiota, above global average (44%).
Learn all about microbiota
Learn moreSolid knowledge of the microbiota despite familiar gaps
Polish respondents score well on several specific knowledge items, particularly around diet and antibiotics:
- 85% know diet has significant consequences on microbiota balance, above global the average (79%);
- 80% know antibiotics have an impact on the microbiota, the highest rate in Europe;
- 66% correctly link IBS, obesity, and vaginosis to the microbiota.
As in most countries, knowledge gaps emerge on the more complex topics:
2. Poles continue to adopt microbiota-friendly habits and behavioral changes
Poland is the European country with the highest probiotic prescription rate: 66% of respondents were prescribed probiotics or prebiotics. This clinical engagement appears to translate into behavior: 59% of Polish respondents have changed their behaviors to protect their microbiota, above the global average of 53% and among the highest in Europe.
of Polish people have changed behaviors to protect their microbiota
(vs. 53% globally)
of them were prescribed probiotics or prebiotics
(vs. 51% globally)
consume fermented foods at least weekly
(vs. 67% globally)
Poland’s behavioral profile shows several notable strengths
Polish respondents consistently perform well on foundational health habits that support microbiota balance:
The majority of Polish people say they engage in physical activity at least weekly (79% vs. 73% globally) and consume fermented foods regularly (84% vs. 67% globally).
Habits that could be strengthened
Despite these solid foundations, microbiota-targeted supplementation habits and dieting could be improved:
36% of Polish respondents consume probiotics and 1 in 3 consume prebiotics monthly — below global averages of 42% and 38%, respectively. Only 30% eat multiple fruits and vegetables daily, below global average (40%).
The combination of high fermented food consumption and above-average behavioral change suggests that microbiota health is increasingly part of daily consciousness in Poland even if specific supplementation habits are not yet fully embedded.
What is the difference between prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics?
Find out more...
3. Polish healthcare professionals are active prescribers of probiotics
Polish healthcare professionals are among the most active prescribers of probiotics in Europe. But the educational component that should accompany this clinical activity is lagging. Trust in HCPs is high (94%), yet only 19% of Polish respondents received all key microbiota information from their healthcare professional.
of Polish people trust HCPs as one of their primary sources on microbiota information
(vs. 94% globally)
of them received an explanation of what the microbiota is
(vs. 39% globally)
received all key microbiota information from their HCP
(vs. 23% globally)
Despite above-average prescriptions, antibiotic education lags
The antibiotic picture in Poland is distinctive. Co-prescription of probiotics with antibiotics is the highest in Europe but the explanations given when prescribing antibiotics remains only average.
44% of respondents were told by their HCP antibiotics could negatively affect their microbiota balance (vs. 39% globally). 60% were co-prescribed probiotics alongside antibiotics, the highest in Europe (vs. 38% globally). Finally, 27% received all key antibiotic-related microbiota information from their HCP (vs. 25% globally).
Some information gaps remain when prescribing antibiotics
Despite Poland's generally above-average HCP engagement, some opportunities for education could still be used:
- 41% were told about digestive disorders associated with antibiotics
(vs. 45% globally); - Only 36% were given advice on limiting the negative consequences of taking antibiotics on the microbiota as much as possible, on par with global averages.
Antibiotics: what impact on the microbiota and on our health?
Learn more
4. The first 1,000 days: a concept still unknown among Polish parents
The first 1,000 days focus reveals room for growth in parental education in Poland. About 39% of Polish parents and pregnant women have heard of the concept (below the global average of 43%). Moreover, only 23% of parents received all key information from their pediatrician (vs. 31% globally).
of Polish parents/pregnant women are aware of the first 1,000 days concept
(vs. 43% globally)
of them claimed to know exactly what it means
(vs. 15% globally)
said to have received information on early microbiota development by an HCP
(vs. 39% globally)
Notable misconceptions among Polish parents
- 6% of parents know that the baby's microbiota does not start developing inside the mother's womb, below the global average of 11%;
- 69% don't know that by age 5 the gut microbiota is not yet adult-like;
- 32% don't know the impact of early antibiotic use on infant gut microbiota development, slightly below the global average of 35%;
- Only 1 in 4 know that pet exposure during early life influences the gut microbiota.
In Poland, there's high trust in healthcare professionals and elevated rates of probiotic prescription. These factors are not necessarily translated into profound knowledge of the early microbiota development. HCPs could provide better explanations when it comes to the first 1000 days, so Poland closes the gap being clinical action and education.
Methodology
This fourth edition of the International Microbiota Observatory was conducted by Ipsos on 7,500 individuals across 11 countries (France, Portugal, Poland, Finland, Italy, Germany, the USA, Brazil, Mexico, China, and Vietnam). The countries surveyed are the same as in the previous wave.
The survey was conducted over the Internet between February 3 and Mars 13, 2026. For each country, the sample is representative of the population aged 18 and over in terms of :
- gender
- age
- profession
- region
Representativeness was ensured via quota sampling, the most commonly used sampling method for obtaining a representative sample of the population studied. The quota variables for each country were gender, age, region, and socio-professional category. The data were adjusted:
- within each country, again to ensure that each population is representative
- globally, so that each country has the same weight. Statistical analyses were carried out using Cosi software (M.L.I., France, 1994), with a significance level of 95%
The survey population was 48% male and 52% female. The sample of 7,500 individuals made it possible to carry out a detailed analysis by age group:
- 18-24
- 25-34
- 35-44
- 45-59
- 60 and over
The changes shown are year-over-year, that is, compared to the 3rd edition of the Observatory conducted in 2025. Changes relative to previous editions—the first and second editions—are shown on a constant scope basis, meaning they were calculated by considering only those countries included in all waves of the survey (namely the United States, Brazil, Mexico, France, Portugal, and China). Other countries, which were included in the Observatory’s second or third editions, are not included in the results presented on a constant scope basis.
The questionnaire includes 24 questions on:
- socio-demographic data
- the level of knowledge about microbiomes
- the level of and desire for information from healthcare professionals
- the level of knowledge and information among parents and pregnant women regarding a child’s microbiome
- the identification and adoption of behaviors designed to combat microbiome imbalances
- the level of knowledge, information, and behaviors of women about the vulvo-vaginal microbiome
- health data
The questionnaire lasted ten minutes and the 7,500 individuals had to complete the entire questionnaire in order to be included in the survey. The terms used in the questionnaire to talk about the microbiome have been translated and adapted to the terms used in each country.
