Probiotic strain checklist

Probiotics can contain either a single probiotic strain or a mix of probiotic strains.

Clinical trials are usually conducted on individual bacterial strains, which demonstrate their specific beneficial effects.

Products containing a mix of different bacterial strains are typically not subjected to clinical testing due to the high costs associated with these trials.

The different bacterial strains in a single product may either complement or interfere with one another.

If not clinically tested, the selection of bacterial strain combinations in a product often relies on expert opinion and informed assumptions.

In general, making an informed choice involves:

• Defining specific probiotic needs.

• Identifying a suitable strain.

• Opting for a probiotic with a single strain or, at most, a product with a limited number of bacterial strains.

• While the CFU (colony-forming unit) count in one capsule is important for your preferred bacteria, it’s more important that the probiotic strain can germinate and multiply effectively in the intestine.
   

• Bear in mind that there are over 100 billion bacteria in just 1 gram of faeces. Therefore, regardless of how high the probiotic count in your capsule is, if the bacteria do not multiply in the gut, the effect will be minimal and short-lived. Unfortunately, few probiotic strains undergo clinical testing for germination and colonization of the intestine.
   

• Bacillus strains and other spore-forming bacteria are known to germinate well, while the growth and colonization of strains like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species can be variable, depending on various factors.
   

• Additionally, it is essential that the composition of the dosage form (capsule or tablet) sold is nearly identical to the forms clinically tested for germination, as an improper choice of excipients may negatively impact the probiotic strain's growth.