Probiotics: Short of a Healthy Dose?

Like the universe, probiotic products are supposed to contain billions and billions of orbs—in this case, friendly lactobacilli and other bacteria to defend your body against digestive woes. But when the independent testing company ConsumerLab.com analyzed 25 brands of probiotic supplements, it found that several of the products contained only minuscule quantities of the beneficial bugs. A helpful dose of probiotics should include at least 1 billion bacteria per daily serving. But among the products tested by ConsumerLab, nearly one-third not only failed to meet this standard, they contained less than 1 percent of the recommended amount. You should choose brands whose labels say they contain more than 1 billion bacteria per daily serving. But be sure to read the fine print, and steer clear if the label claims this number only at the time the product was manufactured; the way the bottle is shipped and stored between factory and supermarket can wreak havoc on the bacteria inside. “Consumers should look for products that don’t limit their claims to the time of manufacture,” says physician Tod Cooperman, who heads ConsumerLab. That gives you a better chance of getting the real deal, he says. He also suggests selecting products whose labels recommend refrigeration; all those that did passed muster. To learn which brands of probiotics—as well as many other herbs and dietary supplements— passed ConsumerLab’s tests, check out www.consumerlab.com.