Probiotics: Amazon Review by RWM

VitaLife Nutrition Probiotics 5B vs Nine Leading Probiotic Supplements By RWM TOP 50 REVIEWER on December 14, 2015 ***
Here is a side-by-side comparison of ten leading probiotic supplements: InnovixLabs Multi-Strain Probiotic, Prescript-Assist, Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care 100 Billion, Ultra Jarro-Dophilus 50 Billion, LesLabs Probiotic 12+, Naturo Sciences Probiotics 15, Sedona Labs iFlora Multi-Probiotic, Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete, VitaLife Nutrition Probiotics 5B, and Rainbow Light Probiolicious Gummies.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Probiotic bacteria supplements are very popular, and for good reason. "Good bugs from yogurt" were considered a solution to digestive issues like irregularity and nothing more. But we now know that the gut health and the collection of healthy bacteria in our gut (called microbiome or gut flora) play key roles in several seemingly unrelated chronic diseases like obesity, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression.

Some specific types of probiotic bacteria strongly influence our mood - they help produce most of the neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine in the gut.

Other probiotic strains have been shown to reduce cholesterol. And yet others help ease colic in newborns.

We all have unique blends of probiotics in our guts. We get them from our mothers during birth and then through breastfeeding. After that, we get more from the environment (mostly dirt). By age three, our probiotic fingerprints are established.

Children born via C-section, then fed formula, or given antibiotics, and raised in ultra clean homes have poor gut bacterial diversity. This can cause several lifelong health issues like allergies, asthma, skin disorders, obesity, and even autism.


We need these bacteria as much as they need us. If we don't feed them soluble fibers (prebiotics) from vegetables and tubers, these bacteria begin to starve.

Our understanding of probiotics and their effect on health is in its infancy. But the health effects of some of these bacteria are so strong that the FDA is requiring scientists researching them to consider them "Investigational New Drugs."

In the not-too-distant future, doctors will be able to tell what diseases we might have by looking at our gut flora fingerprint. We are not far from having prescription bacteria.

How to select a good probiotic supplement

1. Diversity of strains. A healthy human gut has over 1000 different species of bacteria. So, the higher the number of species or strains that a probiotic has, the better. Most simple all-purpose probiotic formulas have between 2 and10 strains. Some probiotics like Lactobacillus GG or Bacillus BC30 have unique and scientifically proven benefits - in those cases, one or two strains are fine. While there are no probiotics that have 1000 strains, many contain 15-30 strains. These are often called "broad spectrum" probiotics.

2. Number of live cultures. This refers to number of bacteria per pill - usually in the billions. Here, too, more is better. But supplement companies often use marketing tricks to make their products look better than the competition's. Bacteria are live creatures that die off gradually through the life of the product. The live culture count will always be much higher at the time of manufacture. The bacteria count drops sharply during the first couple of months after manufacture. If a product is stored according to instructions, you will be left with approximately 10% of the original bacteria count. Example: if a product is made with 100 billion live cultures, it will have about 30 billion after a couple of months and about 10 billion after 2 years. Some products will claim 100 billion on the label and not mention that it was at time of manufacture. Always choose products that list the live culture count at time of product expiry.

3. Stomach acid resistance. More than 95% of probiotic bacteria don't make it past the stomach to the intestines and colon where they are needed. Buy products that provide acid-resistance technology in the form of acid-resistant capsules or proprietary technologies like Bio-Tract. Some types of bacteria, like Bacillus don't need stomach acid protection, but all others do.

4. Probiotic + prebiotic. Probiotics are the good bacteria and PRE-biotics are soluble fibers that the good bacteria feed on. Prebiotics = bacteria food. Prebiotics may be even more important than the bacteria itself. After all, if you don't feed the bacteria with fibers from vegetables and tubers, the probiotic bacteria may starve to death. You need anywhere from 10-20 grams a day of prebiotic fibers to improve your gut flora. Some probiotic formulas claim to be better because they have built-in prebiotics. This is a misleading marketing tactic. The few mgs of prebiotics that are present with live cultures is virtually useless because it simply isn't enough. You'd need dozens of capsules of prebiotics to make a dent in your gut flora. This is why prebiotics are best eaten as food or supplemented separately at much higher doses. There is no benefit in buying `PRE + PRO' combos even though it sounds like a great idea.

5. Look for unique strains. Let's take Lactobacillus acidophilus SD-5212 as an example. The word "Lactobacillus" is the genus. The word "acidophilus" is the species. The code "SD-5212" is the unique strain. Having a unique strain is not necessary or required by FDA, but it helps with identification and traceability. It will help you trace back the strain to a particular source or company. All of the reliable probiotic culture growers use unique strains with known identity and characteristics. Having a strain designation provides an added level of scrutiny and oversight.

6. Gluten-free. Gluten is harmful to the gut lining where probiotic bacteria colonize. Many people who need probiotics already have compromised gut health and will benefit from gluten elimination. You should choose a probiotic that is proven to be gluten free. However, a recent study showed that of the 22 top selling probiotics, 12 contained gluten. The study did not (unfortunately) disclose the brand names. There are different levels of "Gluten free" status. The FDA considers 20 parts per million gluten as "gluten free." Other testing organizations consider 10 ppm to be gluten free. The strictest Celiac support organizations require products to have less than 5 parts per million. If you are gluten sensitive, make sure your product is third-party tested to contain less than 5 ppm. See, http://www.celiaccentral.org/gluten-free-certification/

7. Refrigeration is not necessary. Some probiotics require that you refrigerate them. Cold storage is useful for keeping the number of live cultures high. The only reason some probiotics require refrigeration is simply to meet high live culture label claims. Refrigeration has nothing to do with efficacy or health benefits. If you store these products at room temperature, you will still get health benefits, but you will get fewer live cultures than the label promises. A good probiotic must be able to survive human body temperature of almost 100 degrees F - otherwise it is useless. Any bacteria that cannot survive room temperature is not going to survive both stomach acid and human body temperature. Refrigerated products are also more expensive.

BREAKDOWN: Below is a breakdown of these supplements.

InnovixLabs Multi-Strain Probiotic (See, Multi-Strain PROBIOTIC (by InnovixLabs). Broad Spectrum - 26 Diverse Probiotic Strains. 10,000,000,000 Live Cultures at Expiration. Gluten-free. 60 Delayed-Release Tablets.)
*****
Highlights: An excellent product. A broad-spectrum formula with 26 different strains of probiotics, which is one of the highest. Stomach acid resistant using BIO-tract technology. Live culture numbers guaranteed until expiry date without refrigeration.
$23.99 for 60 delayed release tablets on Amazon
Recommended Serving: 1 tablet per day with a meal
Price per capsule = $0.39 (using Amazon's price)
Number of probiotic strains: 26
Guaranteed number of live cultures at expiration: 10 billion
Guaranteed number of live cultures at bottling: 30 billion
Stomach-acid resistant
Gluten free, third party tested, less than 5 parts per million
Unique strain used and identified
No refrigeration necessary
No soy
No GMOs
Vegetarian
No ingredients sourced from China
Not certified Kosher or Halal
Phone Number: (800) 270-4010
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, pectin, ascorbic acid, sodium carbonate, vegetable stearic acid, guar gum, and turmeric color

Prescript-Assist (See, Prescript-Assist Broad Spectrum Probiotic Prebiotic Complex (60 Caps))
*****
Highlights: An excellent product. The first and best soil-based broad-spectrum probiotic. Contains probiotics not found in other products. Expensive. Number of live cultures not shared. Has unique color and odor. Widely used by doctors.
$49.00 for 60 capsules on Amazon
Recommended Serving: 1-2 capsules per day
Price per capsule = $.82 (using Amazon's price)
Number of probiotic strains: 29
Guaranteed number of live cultures at expiration: N/A
Guaranteed number of live cultures at bottling: N/A
Stomach-acid resistant
Gluten free, third party tested, less than 5 parts per million
Unique strain used and identified
No refrigeration necessary
No soy
No GMOs
Vegetarian
No ingredients sourced from China
Not certified Kosher or Halal
Phone Number: (800) 257-3315
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: cellulose (vegetarian capsule), l-leucine, and bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) extract

Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care 100 Billion (See, Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care-100 Billion Garden of Life 30 VCaps)
*****
Highlights: Excellent. One of the best probiotics on the market. It has very high potency, guaranteed until the product expiration date. It has a very broad spectrum of diverse probiotics strains. However, it is also one of the most expensive. Cool or refrigerated transport and storage is required to maintain the 100 billion potency and there is no stomach acid protection. Without refrigeration and stomach acid protection, only a small fraction of the 100 billion will likely reach the gut.
$31.19 for 30 capsules on Amazon
Recommended Serving: 1 capsule daily
Price per capsule = $1.04 (using Amazon's price)
Number of probiotic strains: 34
Guaranteed number of live cultures at expiration: 100 billion
Guaranteed number of live cultures at bottling: N/A
Not stomach acid resistant
Gluten free, third party tested, less than 20 parts per million
Unique strains used and identified
Refrigeration suggested
No soy
No GMOs
Vegetarian
No ingredients sourced from China
Not certified Kosher or Halal
Phone Number: (866) 465-0051
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: vegetable cellulose

Ultra Jarro-Dophilus 50 Billion (See, Jarrow Formulas Ultra Jarro-Dophilus, 60 VCaps)
****
Highlights: A very good product with some minor issues. This product has more strain variety than other Jarrow EPS products. Specifically, it has 10 unique, scientifically studied strains that are potency guaranteed until time of consumption. Potency is an excellent at 50 billion. However, there is a catch! It must be refrigerated for the potency to hold at 50 billion. If it is not constantly refrigerated, the potency will be much lower. Probiotics do not require refrigeration for survival because after all, they need to survive and colonize our bodies at almost 100 degrees F. Refrigeration is just to guarantee label claims.
$31.19 for 60 capsules on Amazon
Recommended Serving: one capsule per day during or after meal
Price per capsule = $0.52 (using Amazon's price)
Number of probiotic strains: 10
Guaranteed number of live cultures at expiration: N/A
Guaranteed number of live cultures at bottling: N/A
Provides stomach-acid resistance
Contains gluten, less than 20 parts per million
Unique strains used or identified
Requires refrigeration
Contains soy
No GMOs
Vegetarian
some ingredients may be sourced from China
Not certified Kosher or Halal
Phone Number: (310)-204-6936
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: Sodium alginate (algae derived), calcium phosphate, tapioca starch, maltodextrin, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate (vegetable source), and vitamin C. Acid resistant vegetarian capsule consists of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose

LesLabs Probiotic 12+ (See, Probiotic 12+ (60 Capsules) by LES Labs • Supports Digestive & Immune Function • With 10 Billion CFU / 12 Probiotic Strains & DRcaps™ Acid-Resistant Delivery System)
****
Highlights: A very good product with a wide variety of probiotic strains, partial stomach acid protection from delayed release capsules, and high potency at time of bottling. However, there is no guarantee of live culture count at time of expiration. It contains some prebiotic FOS, but the quantity is insufficient to feed probiotic bacteria. The price seems somewhat high at 57 cents per pill.
$34.19 for 60 capsules on Amazon
Recommended Serving: one capsule once or twice daily
Price per capsule = $0.57 (using Amazon's price)
Number of probiotic strains: 12
Guaranteed number of live cultures at expiration: N/A
Guaranteed number of live cultures at bottling: 10 billion
Partial stomach-acid resistance
No gluten
No unique strains used or identified
No refrigeration necessary
No soy
No GMOs
Vegetarian
No ingredients sourced from China
Not certified Kosher or Halal
Phone Number: (877)-567-5370
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: vegetable cellulose, gellan gum, white rice powder, magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide

Naturo Sciences Probiotics 15 (See, Probiotics 15 Billion CFU Advanced Probiotic Supplement; 60 Easy to Swallow Time Released Capsules Packaged in Dry Nitrogen Filled Blister Packs to Prevent Product Degradation, 60 Servings, 1 Serving Per Day - Guaranteed Live Culture)
****
Highlights: A very good product. It starts with 6 unique clinically identified strains and a lot of them – 15 billion per capsule. However, there is no guarantee of potency at time of use or expiration date. Only a fraction of viable cells can be expected to live, even with nitrogen filled blister packing. There isn’t full stomach acid protection like that offered by BioTract technology and the chicory inulin used as a prebiotic is insufficient to feed gut flora.
$39.97 for 60 capsules on Amazon
Recommended Serving: one capsule daily prior to food
Price per capsule = $0.67 (using Amazon's price)
Number of probiotic strains: 6
Guaranteed number of live cultures at expiration: N/A
Guaranteed number of live cultures at bottling: 15 billion
Partial stomach-acid resistance
Gluten free - ??
Unique strains used or identified
No refrigeration necessary
No soy
No GMOs
Vegetarian
No ingredients sourced from China - ??
Not certified Kosher or Halal
Phone Number: (302)-504-6084
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: hypromellose, vegetable magnesium stearate, and silica

Sedona Labs iFlora Multi-Probiotic (See, Sedona Labs Iflora Multi-Probiotic Formula, Capsules, 60-Count (30 Day Supply))
****
Highlights: A very good broad spectrum probiotic. It contains 16 strains of probiotics, which is highly desirable and more than most. The potency is good. However, there is no stomach acid protection, and no guarantee of potency at time of consumption. What reaches your gut may only be a fraction of what is claimed on the label.
$17.20 for 60 capsules on Amazon
Recommended Serving: two capsules daily
Price per capsule = $0.29 (using Amazon's price)
Number of probiotic strains: 16
Guaranteed number of live cultures at expiration: N/A
Guaranteed number of live cultures at bottling: 32 billion
No stomach-acid resistance
No gluten
Some unique strains used or identified
Does not require refrigeration
No soy
No GMOs
Vegetarian
No ingredients sourced from China
Not certified Kosher or Halal
Phone Number: (888)-816-8804
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: vegetable cellulose capsule, vegetable starch, calcium silicate, and silica.

Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete (See, Ther-Biotic Complete 120 Veggie Capsules by Klaire Labs)
****
Highlights: A very good broad-spectrum probiotic with good potency at time of manufacture. However, potency is not guaranteed at time of consumption and there is inadequate stomach acid protection. Its In-tactic technology does not provide continued stomach acid protection for the 3 to 4 hours it will take for the capsule to exit the stomach and reach the intestines.
$55.99 for 120 capsules on Amazon
Recommended Serving: one capsule daily
Price per capsule = $0.47 (using Amazon's price)
Number of probiotic strains: 12
Guaranteed number of live cultures at expiration: N/A
Guaranteed number of live cultures at bottling: 25 billion
Partial stomach-acid resistance
No gluten
No unique strains used or identified
Does not require refrigeration
No soy
No GMOs
Vegetarian
Some ingredients sourced from China (l-leucine)
Not certified Kosher or Halal
Phone Number: (888)-488-2488
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: vegetable hydroxypropyl methylcellulose capsule, water, polysaccharide complex, and l-leucine

VitaLife Nutrition Probiotics 5B (See, Probiotics Supplement - 90 Caps - With Lactobacillus, Acidophilus & More - Best Probiotic for Women & Men - Help Constipation Relief & Immune System Support - Support Intestinal Health)
***
Highlights: A good product. This formula blends spore-forming Bacillus subtilis that can easily survive both environmental and stomach acid exposure with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria that are easily destroyed by heat and stomach acid. It is likely that most of what makes it into the gut will be the Bacillus strain. There is no other stomach acid protection or potency guarantee at time of consumption.
$24.79 for 90 capsules on Amazon
Recommended Serving: one capsule one to three times daily
Price per capsule = $0.27 (using Amazon's price)
Number of probiotic strains: 7
Guaranteed number of live cultures at expiration: N/A
Guaranteed number of live cultures at bottling: 5.75 billion
No stomach-acid resistance
No gluten
Some unique strains used or identified
Refrigeration recommended
No soy
No GMOs
Vegetarian
Some ingredients may be sourced from China
Not certified Kosher or Halal
Phone Number: N/A
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: vegetable cellulose, maltodextrin, and medium chain triglycerides

Rainbow Light Probiolicious Gummies (See, Rainbow Light Probiolicious Gummies, Natural Berry Flavor, 50 Count)
***
Highlights: This product inexpensive and may appeal to parents who are looking for a probiotic for their kids because it is a gummy. It contains half billion live cultures of one spore-forming probiotic strain. This strain is naturally stomach acid resistant. It is not a broad spectrum probiotic. It is not vegetarian. It contains sugar and it is manufactured in Colombia. There is a prebiotic blend in the formula that may be mostly xylitol, a sugar alcohol that is used as a natural sweetener. Accidental over-consumption of xylitol can cause an upset stomach. If ingested, xylitol is also potentially harmful to some animals. Ultimately, getting probiotics into kids is not easy. And giving them just one strain cannot provide all the potential benefits a wide variety of probiotics could impart.
$12.94 for 50 gummies on Amazon
Recommended Serving: chew one gummy daily
Price per capsule = $0.26 (using Amazon's price)
Number of probiotic strains: 1
Guaranteed number of live cultures at expiration: N/A
Guaranteed number of live cultures at bottling: 0.5 billion
Stomach-acid resistant
No gluten
Some unique strains used or identified
No refrigeration required
No soy
No GMOs
Not vegetarian
Some ingredients may be sourced from China
Not certified Kosher or Halal
Phone Number: (800)-571-4701
Manufactured in Colombia
Ingredients: water, cane sugar, gelatin, citric acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, vegetable oil, beeswax, natural carrot color, and natural cranberry flavor

SOY CONTENT: Only Ultra Jarro-Dophilus 50 Billion contains soy.

GMO CONTENT: None of these products contain GMOs.

GLUTEN CONTENT: None of these products contain gluten.

STEARATES: InnovixLabs Multi-Strain Probiotic, Ultra Jarro-Dophilus 50 Billion, LesLabs Probiotic 12+, and Naturo Sciences Probiotics contain stearates. Prescript-Assist, Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care 100 Billion, Sedona Labs iFlora Multi-Probiotic, Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete, VitaLife Nutrition Probiotics 5B, and Rainbow Light Probiolicious Gummies do not contain stearates.

ASCORBYL PALMITATE: None of these products contain ascorbyl palmitate.

TITANIUM DIOXIDE: None of these products contain titanium dioxide.

KOSHER / HALAL: None of these products are certified Kosher or Halal.

VEGETARIAN: InnovixLabs Multi-Strain Probiotic, Prescript-Assist, Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care 100 Billion, Ultra Jarro-Dophilus 50 Billion, LesLabs Probiotic 12+, Naturo Sciences Probiotics, Sedona Labs iFlora Multi-Probiotic, Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete, and VitaLife Nutrition Probiotics 5B are vegetarian. Rainbow Light Probiolicious Gummies is not vegetarian.

OPINION: The best of these products all provide a broad spectrum of probiotic strains, as well as stomach acid protection and counts of live probiotic cultures at "use by" date, such as InnovixLabs Multi-Strain Probiotic, Prescript-Assist, and Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care 100 Billion, which I awarded five stars.

RATING:

Five Stars: I rated InnovixLabs Multi-Strain Probiotic, Prescript-Assist, and Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care 100 Billion five stars.

Four Stars: I rated Ultra Jarro-Dophilus 50 Billion, LesLabs Probiotic 12+, Naturo Sciences Probiotics 15, Sedona Labs iFlora Multi-Probiotic, and Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete four stars.

Three Stars: I rated VitaLife Nutrition Probiotics 5B and Rainbow Light Probiolicious Gummies three stars.

I have separately reviewed all of these products.

Prices current