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Probiotic Supplements
Compare probiotic supplements by strain, daily CFU, price, testing evidence and label transparency. Understand what the research says about different formulations.
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Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Recognised certification
Manufacturer statement
Nutrasource registry page for "Dr. Formulated Probiotics Once Daily Men's" states: "IGEN™ Certified" and "This product has PASSED because it does not contain detectable amounts of genetically engineered GMO proteins and genes included in the IGEN™ testing panel."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Testing evidence
Evidence status
Recognised certification
Manufacturer statement
Nutrasource registry page for "Dr. Formulated Probiotics Once Daily Men's" states: "IGEN™ Certified" and "This product has PASSED because it does not contain detectable amounts of genetically engineered GMO proteins and genes included in the IGEN™ testing panel."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Daily CFU is the verified live count for the labelled daily serving. Compare the exact strains and whether that count is guaranteed through expiry; do not assume more CFU or more strains is better. Where directions give a range, the range is shown and daily cost uses the low end (no directions: one unit a day). Read the dose guide ↓
Nutrasource registry page for "Dr. Formulated Probiotics Once Daily Men's" states: "IGEN™ Certified" and "This product has PASSED because it does not contain detectable amounts of genetically engineered GMO proteins and genes included in the IGEN™ testing panel."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
NSF Official Listings for Garden of Life, LLC include 'WF Dr Formulated Probiotic Womens pH 40B' under NSF/ANSI Standard 173 Dietary Supplements, confirming a Garden of Life women’s probiotic product is NSF-listed/certified on NSF’s own registry.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer product page says: "Made with non-GMO ingredients and produced in a cGMP-compliant facility. Third-party lab tested and made without gluten, soy & dairy." Amazon image also shows a generic "Certification of Analysis Third-Party Independent Verified Lab Results" panel, but I did not find an independently verifiable lab report or certifying-body registry entry for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Our strains are tested via both in-vitro testing, and, where possible, in-vivo trials." and the product page says it is "developed and proven especially to be taken alongside a course of antibiotics."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nutricost product page states: "Third-Party Tested †" and "Nutricost products are tested by an independent, accredited lab to help verify that what’s on the label is what’s in the bottle."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Each lot is DNA tested to ensure it contains our unique strain, Bifidobacterium 35624TM" and also "guaranteed potency" / "advanced packaging to ensure potency and survivability."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
BioSchwartz FAQ includes the question “Are your products tested for purity & quality?” but I did not find any independently verifiable lab report, COA, or third-party certification for this specific probiotic product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nature's Bounty says: "Every Nature’s Bounty® product is subjected to numerous quality tests and assays throughout the manufacturing process to verify purity and full potency. As an added measure of quality assurance, the initial ingredients, as well as the final product are tested in our microbiological laboratory..." and also says its facilities were audited by USP and STR.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Our rigorous quality assurance program includes third-party independent laboratory testing of raw ingredients and finished products for purity and potency to ensure what’s on the label matches what’s in the bottle." It also says the product is "manufactured in a US-based NSF-certified facility."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says the product is 'clinically studied' and 'clinically proven effective' and that it has 'GUARANTEED POTENCY***' / 'We measure the number of live probiotics at product expiration date, guaranteeing you get the full amount per our label whenever you purchase them.'
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
NOW product page says: "The probiotic strains in this product have been identity-verified using DNA-fingerprinting technology." It also says: "This product is formulated to deliver a potency of 25 billion CFU through the Best By date."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Garden of Life’s own certifications page says: “When you see these certifications, you can be sure our products undergo a thorough testing process” and specifically describes NSF Certified for Sport as meaning products are free from banned substances; the product image also shows NSF Gluten-Free and Non-GMO Project Verified badges, but I did not find an independent registry page confirming this specific probiotic product is certified.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer product page states: "Our products are third party tested by independent parties" and links "View Third-Party Lab Results" on the NewRhythm 50 Billion Probiotics Capsules page.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Balance ONE’s guarantee page says: “Every formula is crafted with care, third-party tested for purity and quality, and designed to support your wellness.” The product page also says “Vegan • Non-GMO • Gluten & dairy free • Third-party tested” and the homepage says “Blended in the USA and third-party tested” / “Lab-tested for potency & identity.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site states: "We work with independent laboratories, including Eurofins and Light Labs, to test our products for purity, potency, and safety." The product page also says: "Supplement Facts & Certifications ... Non-GMO Project Verified | Third-Party Tested | Manufactured in the USA."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nature’s Bounty’s U.S. product page for Acidophilus Probiotic says the supplement contains over 100 million active Lactobacillus Acidophilus cultures. The same page includes a generic review snippet stating: “TESTED TO BE TRUSTED We require that all vitamins & supplements to be third-party tested to help ensure they contain the listed dietary ingredients.” Nature’s Bounty’s FAQ pages also use broad marketing language such as “We offer trusted products, backed by science and made with great ingredients.” I did not find an independently verifiable COA, lab report, or registry entry for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "The Advantage? Our clinically tested BC30 probiotic is protected by a natural protein shell which allows it to survive your stomach acid 100x better versus yogurts so more live bacteria can reach your gut." The brand page also says: "All Digestive Advantage probiotic supplements contain our exclusive BC30 Probiotic... studies have shown it can survive 100x better..."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer page says: "DNA testing confirms the identity of Align." It also says the strain is "clinically studied," but that is efficacy research, not independent contents testing.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Florastor’s own product page says “Rigorous quality testing” and “Made in France, every Florastor Dual Action capsule meets the highest quality standards.” The Amazon listing also says “Scientifically-tested bio cultures complex with NCFM®,” but I did not find any independently verifiable third-party COA/certification for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
NSF Certified for Sport listing for Thorne® Complete Biotic on NSF's own registry shows the product name, brand, product form 'Stick', serving size '1 stick pack (1 g)', and the product is listed under Thorne in the certified products directory.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
OLLY product page states: "NSF Certified" and "NSF certification helps consumers identify products that have been independently tested and certified to meet rigorous standards for quality, safety, and label claims." NSF's own listing page for OLLY confirms the brand's certified products and includes "PROBIOTIC + PREBIOTIC" as a finished product under NSF/ANSI Standard 173.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
FODMAP Friendly product page for BioGaia product: “BioGaia® Gastrus™ PURE ACTION is an extra-strength probiotic... ✓ FODMAP Friendly ...” and “BioGaia® Gastrus® PURE is FODMAP Friendly® certified – it has been independently tested in NATA and ISO-accredited labs...”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nutrasource registry page for "Dr. Formulated Probiotics Once Daily Men's" states: "IGEN™ Certified" and "This product has PASSED because it does not contain detectable amounts of genetically engineered GMO proteins and genes included in the IGEN™ testing panel."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
NSF Official Listings for Garden of Life, LLC include 'WF Dr Formulated Probiotic Womens pH 40B' under NSF/ANSI Standard 173 Dietary Supplements, confirming a Garden of Life women’s probiotic product is NSF-listed/certified on NSF’s own registry.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer product page says: "Made with non-GMO ingredients and produced in a cGMP-compliant facility. Third-party lab tested and made without gluten, soy & dairy." Amazon image also shows a generic "Certification of Analysis Third-Party Independent Verified Lab Results" panel, but I did not find an independently verifiable lab report or certifying-body registry entry for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Our strains are tested via both in-vitro testing, and, where possible, in-vivo trials." and the product page says it is "developed and proven especially to be taken alongside a course of antibiotics."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nutricost product page states: "Third-Party Tested †" and "Nutricost products are tested by an independent, accredited lab to help verify that what’s on the label is what’s in the bottle."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Each lot is DNA tested to ensure it contains our unique strain, Bifidobacterium 35624TM" and also "guaranteed potency" / "advanced packaging to ensure potency and survivability."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
BioSchwartz FAQ includes the question “Are your products tested for purity & quality?” but I did not find any independently verifiable lab report, COA, or third-party certification for this specific probiotic product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nature's Bounty says: "Every Nature’s Bounty® product is subjected to numerous quality tests and assays throughout the manufacturing process to verify purity and full potency. As an added measure of quality assurance, the initial ingredients, as well as the final product are tested in our microbiological laboratory..." and also says its facilities were audited by USP and STR.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "Our rigorous quality assurance program includes third-party independent laboratory testing of raw ingredients and finished products for purity and potency to ensure what’s on the label matches what’s in the bottle." It also says the product is "manufactured in a US-based NSF-certified facility."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says the product is 'clinically studied' and 'clinically proven effective' and that it has 'GUARANTEED POTENCY***' / 'We measure the number of live probiotics at product expiration date, guaranteeing you get the full amount per our label whenever you purchase them.'
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
NOW product page says: "The probiotic strains in this product have been identity-verified using DNA-fingerprinting technology." It also says: "This product is formulated to deliver a potency of 25 billion CFU through the Best By date."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Garden of Life’s own certifications page says: “When you see these certifications, you can be sure our products undergo a thorough testing process” and specifically describes NSF Certified for Sport as meaning products are free from banned substances; the product image also shows NSF Gluten-Free and Non-GMO Project Verified badges, but I did not find an independent registry page confirming this specific probiotic product is certified.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer product page states: "Our products are third party tested by independent parties" and links "View Third-Party Lab Results" on the NewRhythm 50 Billion Probiotics Capsules page.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Balance ONE’s guarantee page says: “Every formula is crafted with care, third-party tested for purity and quality, and designed to support your wellness.” The product page also says “Vegan • Non-GMO • Gluten & dairy free • Third-party tested” and the homepage says “Blended in the USA and third-party tested” / “Lab-tested for potency & identity.”
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site states: "We work with independent laboratories, including Eurofins and Light Labs, to test our products for purity, potency, and safety." The product page also says: "Supplement Facts & Certifications ... Non-GMO Project Verified | Third-Party Tested | Manufactured in the USA."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Nature’s Bounty’s U.S. product page for Acidophilus Probiotic says the supplement contains over 100 million active Lactobacillus Acidophilus cultures. The same page includes a generic review snippet stating: “TESTED TO BE TRUSTED We require that all vitamins & supplements to be third-party tested to help ensure they contain the listed dietary ingredients.” Nature’s Bounty’s FAQ pages also use broad marketing language such as “We offer trusted products, backed by science and made with great ingredients.” I did not find an independently verifiable COA, lab report, or registry entry for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer site says: "The Advantage? Our clinically tested BC30 probiotic is protected by a natural protein shell which allows it to survive your stomach acid 100x better versus yogurts so more live bacteria can reach your gut." The brand page also says: "All Digestive Advantage probiotic supplements contain our exclusive BC30 Probiotic... studies have shown it can survive 100x better..."
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Manufacturer page says: "DNA testing confirms the identity of Align." It also says the strain is "clinically studied," but that is efficacy research, not independent contents testing.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
Florastor’s own product page says “Rigorous quality testing” and “Made in France, every Florastor Dual Action capsule meets the highest quality standards.” The Amazon listing also says “Scientifically-tested bio cultures complex with NCFM®,” but I did not find any independently verifiable third-party COA/certification for this specific product.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
NSF Certified for Sport listing for Thorne® Complete Biotic on NSF's own registry shows the product name, brand, product form 'Stick', serving size '1 stick pack (1 g)', and the product is listed under Thorne in the certified products directory.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
OLLY product page states: "NSF Certified" and "NSF certification helps consumers identify products that have been independently tested and certified to meet rigorous standards for quality, safety, and label claims." NSF's own listing page for OLLY confirms the brand's certified products and includes "PROBIOTIC + PREBIOTIC" as a finished product under NSF/ANSI Standard 173.
Displayed points and weights are rounded; the total uses unrounded weights. Pending dimensions are excluded. Provisional scores may change after review.
FODMAP Friendly product page for BioGaia product: “BioGaia® Gastrus™ PURE ACTION is an extra-strength probiotic... ✓ FODMAP Friendly ...” and “BioGaia® Gastrus® PURE is FODMAP Friendly® certified – it has been independently tested in NATA and ISO-accredited labs...”
One-time purchase prices; delivery and conditional discounts excluded. Daily cost uses the recorded label serving. Comparison amounts are not personal dose recommendations. Unknown Prime eligibility is not treated as confirmed.
Probiotic strains and labels explained
A high-quality probiotic comparison must separate microorganism identity, live count, shelf-life basis and formulation. The biggest CFU number or longest strain list is not a scientific efficacy ranking.
Exact strain disclosed
Best basis for evidence matching
Look for
Genus + species + strain ID
Example
L. rhamnosus GG
Species-only labels cannot be matched confidently to strain-specific trials.
Single strain
One defined live strain
Benefit
Clear evidence matching
Not a weakness
Fewer strains
A single well-researched strain can be more interpretable than a broad unstudied blend.
Multi strain blend
Several live strains
Compare
Exact blend + CFU
Do not assume
More strains = better
The finished combination needs evidence; individual-strain studies do not automatically add together.
Synbiotic formulation
Live microbes plus selectively used substrate
Scientific term
Evidence dependent
Not enough
Any added fibre
Use 'with prebiotic' unless the formulation genuinely meets synbiotic criteria.
Yeast probiotic
Live probiotic yeast
Example
S. boulardii
Do not convert
mg to CFU
Yeast probiotics may use different label units and antibiotic assumptions from bacterial strains.
Legacy taxonomy
Historical versus current names
Example
Lactobacillus → Lacticaseibacillus
Check
The exact strain ID
Names can change. Check the strain identifier before matching an older study to a current label.
Understanding probiotic strains and daily CFU
NIH uses colony-forming units (CFU) to describe viable probiotic organisms and states that there are no formal recommendations for or against probiotic use in healthy people. Optimal amounts depend on the strain and product, not a universal CFU target. [1]
For comparison, daily CFU is the verified CFU per labelled serving multiplied by labelled servings per day. Do not convert milligrams, AFU, total cells or postbiotic amounts into CFU.
Count timing is important because CFU can decline over shelf life. NIH distinguishes products that state CFU at manufacture from those that guarantee CFU through expiration/use-by. [1][2]
What does the probiotic evidence say?
Probiotic efficacy is not a class effect. Trials and reviews repeatedly show that outcomes depend on the exact strain or blend and the condition being studied. [11]
For antibiotic-associated diarrhea, pooled outpatient evidence is positive for some products, but a large hospital trial of S. boulardii was null. [12][14] For IBS, a dose-ranging 35624 trial found benefit at one tested dose but not at the lower or higher dose. [10]
That pattern is why this comparison does not award efficacy points for a large headline CFU number alone.
Probiotic evidence by research question
Evidence by goal
Goal
Evidence strength
What was assessed
Typical study context
Main limitation
IBS symptoms
Strain-specific; mixed overall
B. longum 35624 plus other exact probiotic strains/formulations
A 362-person trial found benefit at the 10^8 CFU 35624 dose over 4 weeks; systematic review results varied by strain/outcome.
Clinical IBS populations; exact strain and final formulation are essential for applicability.
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Supported for some products, not a class-wide effect
Specific bacterial mixtures, LGG/S. boulardii and other formulations
17-RCT outpatient meta-analysis was positive overall; large null trials also exist.
Different strains, doses, settings and antibiotic exposures.
Low bowel frequency
Modest and strain-specific
B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12
1,248 adults received 1B or 10B CFU/day for 4 weeks with similar dose effects.
Healthy low-frequency population; not a general constipation treatment conclusion.
Functional constipation
Recent null evidence for one strain
B. animalis subsp. lactis HN019
229 adults; 8 weeks; 7.0B CFU/day at start and 4.69B by study end.
One strain and population; does not determine effects of other products.
Read the full evidence-by-goal detail
IBS symptoms
Some exact strains have supportive human evidence, but a systematic review of 42 RCTs found effects varied by strain and outcome. [11] A different strain or blend should not inherit those results automatically.
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Some strain-specific formulations reduce risk in trials and meta-analyses, while other large trials are negative. [12][13][14]
Bowel frequency / constipation
BB-12 produced similar effects at 1 and 10 billion CFU/day in a large study, whereas a recent HN019 trial did not outperform placebo. [15][16] More CFU is therefore not a universal efficacy rule.
Timing, storage and label directions
No universal morning/evening or empty-stomach rule applies to all probiotics. Follow the exact product directions and storage requirements. NIH notes that some probiotic products require refrigeration while others can be stored at room temperature. [1][2]
Antibiotic-separation instructions should be treated as product-specific directions unless evidence for that exact probiotic/antibiotic context is verified.
Probiotic side effects and cautions
Who should be cautious?If any of the following apply to you, speak to a healthcare professional before taking Probiotics - see the full detail below for why.
People with compromised immune systems
People who are severely ill or medically fragile
People using probiotics to manage a diagnosed gastrointestinal condition
People receiving intensive medical treatment where probiotic organisms could pose a higher infection risk
NCCIH says probiotics have an extensive history of apparently safe use in healthy people, but safety has not been studied in detail across all products and long-term use. The risk of serious adverse effects is greater in people who are severely ill or have compromised immune systems. [3]
FDA regulates dietary supplements differently from drugs; sale of a probiotic supplement does not mean FDA has approved its clinical effectiveness. [4]
Combinations and interactions
Keep probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics separate. A synbiotic is more than a capsule that happens to contain bacteria plus fibre; it has its own evidence-based definition. [6]
A postbiotic contains inanimate microorganisms/components and is not counted in live CFU. [7]
Who might consider probiotics?
For healthy adults, NIH does not make a blanket recommendation for or against probiotics. [1] The most defensible use of a comparison page is therefore to show whether a consumer product has the same strain/formulation and amount basis as research relevant to the shopper's question, without promising treatment.
People who are seriously ill, immunocompromised or using a probiotic for a diagnosed condition should involve a healthcare professional. [3]
Testing and quality: what to look for
For probiotics, identity, viability, stability and contaminant testing are separate. A DNA identity test can support strain identity but does not show how many viable organisms remain. A CFU result shows viable count at a timepoint but does not prove identity unless identity is also tested.
FDA cGMP requirements address manufacturing controls, identity, purity, strength and composition. [21] They are not independent evidence that the exact strain count survives to expiration or that the product produces a clinical benefit.
Testing evidence in this comparison
A testing claim is not the same as a verified report. No public evidence located does not mean a product has not been tested.
Testing review pending0
Recognised certification2
Verified independent evidence0
Manufacturer COA0
Testing claimed18
No public evidence located5
What does probiotics cost?
Current US comparison set, based on the daily serving shown on each label.
$0.07Lowest daily cost
$0.55Median daily cost
$1.53Highest daily cost
Your questions, answered
How many CFU should a probiotic have?
There is no universal best CFU count. NIH says optimal amounts depend on the strain and product. [1] A large BB-12 trial found similar effects at 1 and 10 billion CFU/day, which is one reason not to rank probiotics by the largest number alone. [15]
What is the difference between CFU at manufacture and at expiration?
Probiotic CFU can decline over time. NIH notes that some products list the count at manufacture while others state what remains through expiration/use-by. [2] The latter is more useful for knowing the live count when the product is actually used.
Is a multi-strain probiotic better than a single strain?
Not automatically. Probiotic efficacy is strain- and outcome-specific, and an unstudied blend does not inherit every benefit reported for its ingredients separately. [11]
Does FDA approve probiotic supplements before they are sold?
FDA regulates dietary supplements differently from drugs. Manufacturers are responsible for safety and labeling before marketing, and FDA can act against adulterated or misbranded products after they reach the market. [4]
Are probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics the same?
No. Probiotics are live microorganisms, prebiotics are selectively used substrates, synbiotics combine live microorganisms with appropriate substrate(s), and postbiotics are inanimate microorganism preparations/components. [6][7]
