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Best Probiotic Supplements and Kombuchas? -- ConsumerLab Tests 41 Popular Products, Reveals Problems and Top Picks
White Plains, New York, May 2, 2018 — With so many different probiotic supplements on the market, each providing different amounts and strains of beneficial bacteria or yeast, choosing the right one can be an overwhelming task. How do you know which product bests suits a particular need, contains the beneficial bacteria it claims, and is the best quality and value? And how do probiotic drinks like kombucha compare?
To answer these questions, ConsumerLab.com recently tested 41 popular probiotic supplements and drinks sold in the U.S. and Canada, checking to see how many viable ("live") probiotic cells they contained. ConsumerLab also tested each for contamination with pathogenic bacteria (such as E. coli and Salmonella) and for toxic heavy metals (lead, cadmium and arsenic). The products were then compared on cost and, for probiotic drinks, taste.
The tests revealed that most probiotic supplements contained the number of viable cells listed on their labels, aside from a product for pets that contained just 5.3% of its listed number of cells. Across the products, however, there was a vast difference in the number of cells per daily serving, ranging from just 100 million to 1.8 trillion. The probiotic drinks, including two kombuchas, provided about 1 to 2 billion cells per cup.
The findings are now available online in ConsumerLab.com's Probiotics Review. Among the products that passed all quality checks ConsumerLab.com selected its Top Picks for preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, treating abdominal pain and constipation, reducing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and reducing symptoms of colds. A kombucha was selected as the Top Pick among probiotic drinks.
The Review also provides the clinical evidence for probiotics, with details about which probiotic bacteria and yeast have been effective for specific conditions (irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), abdominal pain, diarrhea, cold and flu, high cholesterol, anxiety, weight loss and others). The report also explains what to look for on product labels and how to properly use and store probiotic supplements and drinks, as well as potential side effects and safety, including concerns for people with milk allergies.
The Review includes test results and quality comparisons for 38 probiotic supplements (including three for pets) and three probiotic drinks. These include 24 selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com and 17 that passed the same testing through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program. Products covered in the review are: Align, Country Life Acidophilus, Culturelle, CVS Health Women's Probiotic, Doctors Foster And Smith Probiotic - For Dogs and Cats, Enzymatic Therapy Probiotic Pearls, EvoraPlus, Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Women's, Genestra Brands HMF Intensive, Gerber Soothe Probiotic Colic Drops, GT'S Kombucha Gingerade, HUM Gut Instinct, Hyperbiotics Pro-15, InnovixLabs Chewable Probiotic, Jamieson Probiotic Sticks, arrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus Probiotic Women 5, Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus Probiotics Infant, KeVita Sparkling Probiotic Drink, Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic, Kyo-Dophilus, Latta Kombucha Green Tea Lemon Balm, LoveBug Probiotics Yeast is a Beast, Nature's Way Primadophilus Fortify Age 50+, Nature's Way Primadophilus Optima, Olly Pure Probiotic, Pet Ultimate's Probiotics for Cats, Pure Encapsulations Probiotics 5, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora for Dogs, Radiance Acidophilus With Pectin, Schiff Digestive Advantage Gas Defense Formula, Smarty Pants Kids Probiotic Complete, Solgar Advanced 40+ Acidophilus, Spring Valley [Walmart] Acidophilus, Swanson Probiotics, Swanson Ultra Hardy-Strain Probiotic, Trunature [Costco] Digestive Probiotics, UP4 Probiotics Children's, USANA Probiotic, Vitamin World Probiotic 10 and VSL#3 The Living Shield.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to reviews of more than 1,000 products from over 400 brands. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
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To answer these questions, ConsumerLab.com recently tested 41 popular probiotic supplements and drinks sold in the U.S. and Canada, checking to see how many viable ("live") probiotic cells they contained. ConsumerLab also tested each for contamination with pathogenic bacteria (such as E. coli and Salmonella) and for toxic heavy metals (lead, cadmium and arsenic). The products were then compared on cost and, for probiotic drinks, taste.
The tests revealed that most probiotic supplements contained the number of viable cells listed on their labels, aside from a product for pets that contained just 5.3% of its listed number of cells. Across the products, however, there was a vast difference in the number of cells per daily serving, ranging from just 100 million to 1.8 trillion. The probiotic drinks, including two kombuchas, provided about 1 to 2 billion cells per cup.
The findings are now available online in ConsumerLab.com's Probiotics Review. Among the products that passed all quality checks ConsumerLab.com selected its Top Picks for preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, treating abdominal pain and constipation, reducing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and reducing symptoms of colds. A kombucha was selected as the Top Pick among probiotic drinks.
The Review also provides the clinical evidence for probiotics, with details about which probiotic bacteria and yeast have been effective for specific conditions (irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), abdominal pain, diarrhea, cold and flu, high cholesterol, anxiety, weight loss and others). The report also explains what to look for on product labels and how to properly use and store probiotic supplements and drinks, as well as potential side effects and safety, including concerns for people with milk allergies.
The Review includes test results and quality comparisons for 38 probiotic supplements (including three for pets) and three probiotic drinks. These include 24 selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com and 17 that passed the same testing through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program. Products covered in the review are: Align, Country Life Acidophilus, Culturelle, CVS Health Women's Probiotic, Doctors Foster And Smith Probiotic - For Dogs and Cats, Enzymatic Therapy Probiotic Pearls, EvoraPlus, Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Women's, Genestra Brands HMF Intensive, Gerber Soothe Probiotic Colic Drops, GT'S Kombucha Gingerade, HUM Gut Instinct, Hyperbiotics Pro-15, InnovixLabs Chewable Probiotic, Jamieson Probiotic Sticks, arrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus Probiotic Women 5, Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus Probiotics Infant, KeVita Sparkling Probiotic Drink, Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic, Kyo-Dophilus, Latta Kombucha Green Tea Lemon Balm, LoveBug Probiotics Yeast is a Beast, Nature's Way Primadophilus Fortify Age 50+, Nature's Way Primadophilus Optima, Olly Pure Probiotic, Pet Ultimate's Probiotics for Cats, Pure Encapsulations Probiotics 5, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora for Dogs, Radiance Acidophilus With Pectin, Schiff Digestive Advantage Gas Defense Formula, Smarty Pants Kids Probiotic Complete, Solgar Advanced 40+ Acidophilus, Spring Valley [Walmart] Acidophilus, Swanson Probiotics, Swanson Ultra Hardy-Strain Probiotic, Trunature [Costco] Digestive Probiotics, UP4 Probiotics Children's, USANA Probiotic, Vitamin World Probiotic 10 and VSL#3 The Living Shield.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to reviews of more than 1,000 products from over 400 brands. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
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