Which probiotic strains should I look for in supplements?

Several studies have shown that there are various strains of probiotics that have different benefits. The majority of people use probiotics for immune system support and to prevent or treat diarrhoea associated with the use of antibiotics.

If you are in need of dietary support or a supplement that supports your immune system, then experts suggest using one (or a combination of) the following¹⁸:

**My Med Memo - These probiotics are thought to aid in the well-being of the gastrointestinal tract and improve the body’s defence against harmful microorganisms (i.e. pathogens) in people who are healthy (i.e. individuals who do not have any immunodeficiencies or health issues)

• Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 (L. reuteri ATCC55730)
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) (L. rhamnosus GG (LGG))
• Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 (B. lactis HN019)
• Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 (B. lactis Bb-12)
• Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 (L. casei DN-114 001)

If you are in need of dietary support or a supplement that provides support for diarrhoea caused by antibiotics, then experts suggest using one (or a combination of) the following¹⁸:

• Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) / Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii)
• Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 (L. casei DN-114 001)
• Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285 plus Lactobacillus casei Lbc80r (L. acidophilus CL1285 plus L. casei Lbc80r)
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) (L. rhamnosus GG (LGG))

What should the labels of supplements that contain probiotics include?

There are a few things you will need to take into consideration when buying a supplement containing probiotics, the below list outlines the most important factors to be aware of:

• Brand quality – It is advised that you look for well-established and reputable brands that have customer reviews that are readily available.
• High colony forming units (CFUs) count – This refers to the number of probiotics contained in the supplement, you should look for supplements that have a count of between fifteen to one hundred billion.
• Strain diversity – For general health purposes and overall immune support, you should always look for a probiotic supplement that contains between ten and 30 different probiotic strains. This rule will not apply to situations where you need a particular probiotic to prevent or treat a specific condition.
• Survivability – Try to find supplements that contain popular strains such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Saccharomyces boulardii, Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus coagulans as these popular strains ensure that the probiotics survive all way through the digestive system to your gut and are able to colonise within the gut.
• Research – It is vital that you do some research on the supplements you want to potentially purchase. Speak to your doctor if need be and conduct thorough research online about the brand and strain you want to buy and for the purpose you need it for.

 

 

^References: 

^{18. NIH. 2016. Probiotics: In Depth. Available:   https://nccih.nih.gov/health/probiotics/introduction.htm [Accessed 20.03.2018]}