Which is the best probiotic supplement

Confused about which probiotic supplements are best? We can help you to decide.

If you've never heard of probiotic bacteria before, all you need to know is that they are completely natural. You already have trillions of them living in your gut, collectively known as the gut microbiome. Even if you have heard of good bacteria, you may not know that different types of bacteria do different things, or that it's very easy for the delicate balance in the gut microbiome to be disturbed. This is why many people like to take a probiotic supplement.  But how do you choose a probiotic supplement that's right for you?

In the next section, Microbiologist, Dr. Kate Steed, and gut health expert, Nutritional Therapist Helen Morton, answer the Top 5 Questions our Nutrition Team are asked, by customers confused about which live cultures are best. Or if you're short on time, why not watch our short video in which Nutritional Therapist Camilla explains how to choose a friendly bacteria supplement that's perfect for you.

1. Choose the best probiotic supplement that is right for your needs
2. Single strains can be better than multi-strains
3. Sometimes a low billions count can be best
4. Capsules, powders, and gummies are just as effective as liquid supplements
5. It’s important to choose a trusted, expert brand 

1. Choose the best probiotic supplement that is right for your needs

Not all friendly bacteria strains have the same properties^6,14, so it’s important to choose a probiotic supplement containing strains researched for your individual requirements. Probiotic specialists always include the strain names in the ingredients. Once you know the strain name, you can see what it’s been researched for. For example:

• For digestion and wellbeing: the Every Day supplement contains strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria naturally found in the digestive tract, and proven in over 20 years of research to reach the gut alive⁶. This is one of the best probiotic supplements for daily digestive support and general wellbeing*
• For babies: Bifidobacterium breve M-16V^® has been widely researched in babies⁷ for digestion and immune health*– find this strain in Baby Drops
• For children: The strain in Kids Gummies, Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2, is one of the one of the most researched strains of Bacillus in children^8,9,10 Choose these delicious live cultures gummies for children over 3 years
• For pregnancy: The strains in Pregnancy,  such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, have been widely researched in pregnant and breastfeeding women¹¹
• For vaginal health: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1^® and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14^® are proven to reach the vaginal flora¹³ – find these strains in For Women

For free advice about how to use the rest of our range, contact our Nutrition Team.

2. Single strains can be better than multi-strains

It’s quality not quantity that matters when choosing a live cultures supplement. You don’t need to keep switching brands to try lots of different products or choose multi-strain probiotic supplements containing large numbers of different friendly bacteria. Many renowned probiotic strains, such as Bifidobacteria lactis BB-12^® or Saccharomyces boulardii,^1,2, are typically researched alone. So just choose a probiotic supplement containing high-quality strains, proven to reach the gut or vaginal flora, and researched in for the health concerns you wish to support, such as digestion³, immune health⁴, or mood and wellbeing⁵. If you buy from expert companies, the strains will always be shown on the packaging, not just the species, so you can make an informed choice.

3. Sometimes a low billions count can be best

In the same way that you don’t need to look for probiotic supplements with lots of strains, you don’t always need one with a high number of billions. You will pay more for these high-strength supplements, and you may not need all those extra billions⁶! Live cultures specialists use the same number of billions used in the supporting clinical trials, so you never pay for more than you need. It’s better to choose a supplement containing high quality probiotic strains researched for your individual needs rather than a generic high-strength formula. 

4.Capsules, powders, and gummies are just as effective as liquid supplements

Live cultures supplements come in capsules, sachets, liquids, and gummies, which can be very confusing! Many people think that liquid supplements are absorbed better or reach the gut more quickly. But this is not the case - if you choose a high-quality, well-researched probiotic supplement, you can be confident that the friendly bacteria strains are tested to reach the gut⁶, whether they're in capsules, liquids, or any other format. Probiotic specialists only use highly researched live cultures, so you can opt for the format which suits you best, safe in the knowlege that they're all equally as effective.

5. It’s important to choose a trusted, expert brand

With so many different options available in the UK, deciding which is the best probiotic supplement can be very confusing. Ideally, look for a trusted specialist brand with products backed by sound science. At Optibac Probiotics we have decades of experience and specialise only in live cultures supplements, which is probably why we're the UK's most recommended brand of probiotics^{^}. We always use strains backed by credible science and prioritise natural ingredients, and we think ours is the best range of UK probiotic supplements available!

If you now feel fully informed, go ahead and choose your ideal probiotic supplement in our US Shop.

Choosing the best Optibac supplements