It’s Settled. Probiotics Work & Here’s 70+ Brands Ranked on Quality & Science

Probiotics are a $50 billion dollar industry. And that’s for good reason. Since 2008, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been studying bacteria and their impacts on our health, isolating over 2,000 strains of human bacteria and studying them. Those findings have fundamentally changed our understanding of how the body works. But which probiotics are helpful in attaining the health benefits? We’ve been looking into this for years. After trying several brands, we finally found one that works for overall health. Now we’ve gone back into the entire industry to try and make sense of why some probiotics we tried have worked while others have not. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like safer cookware, safest feminine products, and safest sunscreens, now join us as we take you through our probiotic investigation. One company, Seed, in particular, has arisen with a superior product–The Daily Synbiotic.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and was fact-checked by Rebecca Elizabeth Sherrick Harks, RN-BSN.

Buyer Beware: Probiotics is a Billion Dollar Industry

The probiotic industry is estimated to reach $77 billion globally by 2025, according to a new report by Radiant Insights, Inc. And of course, with any billion-dollar industry, there is a vast gap between products and quality.

Are probiotics useful for your health?

Yes. That’s pretty clear.

But does every probiotic afford you the same health benefits?

Unfortunately, no.

Hopefully, after you read this post, you’ll get a good idea of what to look for in a probiotic, understand what the best probiotics are, learn what types of strains you want to consume, and what ingredients you want to be careful of, and what types of encapsulations are going to work. You’ll also learn a great deal about the recommended dosage, the gut microbiome, colony-forming units, and irritable bowel syndrome. Other considerations may be if they are made with non-GMO ingredients, soy or gluten-free ingredients, or contain any type of binders.

The purity of your shelf-stable probiotics will determine the best probiotic supplements.

What Are Probiotics & How Do You Test Quality?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has established the definition of probiotics as “live microorganisms which, when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.”

To qualify as a probiotic, a product must meet this strict, scientific definition.

That means a delivery system that ensures survivability to the colon (live microorganism), a clinically-verified dose (adequate amounts), and strain-specific, clinically-studied benefits–in other words, a strain shown to have an effect in the human body (not just mice!) 

Understanding the Bacteria that Live In and On Us–The NIH’s Human Microbiome Project

Bacteria have been around for 3.7 billion years and scientists have been studying them since the 1600s. But it was in 2008 that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded the 10-year Human Microbiome Project. Over 200 scientists around the world worked to uncover the connection between the microbiome (the bacteria that live in and on us), health, and disease. Their findings have reinforced the relationship between bacteria and almost all aspects of our health–from digestion to skin to the vaginal microbiome, and even diseases like Autism, depression schizophrenia, and cancer.

We now know that about 99% of bacteria are beneficial and less than 1% are actually harmful to us. When we overuse antibiotics or antibacterials, we inadvertently destroy the beneficial bacteria within us and create room for pathogenic ones to thrive. You have bacteria inside your gut, on your skin, in your vagina, your mouth and in many other places–these ecosystems, when in balance, help your body function at its fullest potential.

Your microbiome is constantly in flux–each of the daily choices you make (what you eat, drink, how much you exercise, etc) have the potential to change the ecosystem within. Alongside diet and lifestyle, probiotics (and prebiotics) are an important addition to your daily routine.

What Criteria Should You Use to Evaluate a Probiotic?

The probiotics aisle is incredibly confusing. With all the different products touting different claims and benefits, how can you know what’s true, or what’s important? When evaluating probiotics for you and your family, here are some of the questions to ask:

• What strains, not just species, are included in the formulation?
• Have these strains been clinically-studied to do something? If so, what? Ask to see the clinical research.
• Are these strains included in their clinically-verified dosages?
• What is the origin of the strains? Are they human, soil, animal or dairy?
• Have the strains been sequenced? Do you know if the strains listed on the jar or box match what is being advertised? Oftentimes, they don’t.
• How do you know the probiotics inside will survive digestion and arrive where it matters–in your colon? This is about the encapsulation and delivery system used and how they ensure protection past stomach acid and bile acids.
• Does the product also contain a prebiotic? These can be biotransformed by gut bacteria into powerful metabolites beneficial for health. Some also boost the growth of beneficial microbes within you.
• Does the product exceed FDA regulations and ascribe to more stringent global standards like EFSA (Europe) or FOSHU (Japan)? In certain places, the term ‘probiotic’ is much more closely regulated and products claiming to be probiotic must demonstrate clinical efficacy.
• Has this product been tested for pesticide residue? Will the company share laboratory information or get third party certification?
• Is the product in a plastic bottle? Obviously, glass is preferred for reasons like carbon footprint and exposure to plasticizers.

Now we’ll start going through all these different questions one by one so you can see how and why they are relevant to your decision. And stick around at the end for our probiotic investigation where we bust out all the brands.

Different Bacterial Strains Are Linked With Different Health Outcomes

Not all probiotics are created equal. Bacterial strains matter. For example, Lactobacillus rhamnosus is a species, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus SD-LR6-IT is a strain–within each species, there are thousands of strains, and they can each have different functions (or no function at all) in your body. Just like you wouldn’t send a French bulldog to do a sheepdog’s work, you have to be specific about what strains you’re taking.

**Bacterial Strains Increasing Natural Folate Production in the Body and Improving Vaginal Health, as well as Potentially Improving Fertility through Alleviating Dysbiosis**

Folate is an essential vitamin that supports cellular health and plays a critical role in fertility and pregnancy. Several bacteria in this group work by helping your body naturally produce more folate. Folate is something you want in preparation for pregnancy–before and through conception. Several other strains lower rates of yeast infections and improve women’s health. The strains listed below perform some of these tasks, but no strain is proven to do them all.  

**Bacterial Strains with Strong Clinical Trials Improving Digestive Health / Anti-Oxidative Stress / GI Immunity / Mitochondrial Metabolism**

Several probiotic strains have been clinically proven to improve digestive health. These are from the Genera (plural of Genus) Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Strains on the list below perform one or more of the following digestive health activities: health to help maintain regularity, ease bloating, and alleviate occasional constipation. In addition, strains can support gut health helping improve epithelial tight junction formation, thereby supporting gut barrier integrity. Some of these strains also support gastrointestinal immune function, counter oxidative stress, & produce beneficial short-chain fatty acids. A few strains have been shown in vitro to support healthy mitochondrial metabolism and produce urolithin-A. The strains listed below perform some of these tasks, but no strain is proven to do them all. 

**Bacterial Strains Improving Metabolism & Energy Production**

The ability of the human host to metabolize substances, such as food, is essential for energy and many bodily functions. The bacteria in the intestine play a major role in these activities. The following bacterial strains support better metabolism and increase key metabolites. One particularly important activity is mitophagy–a cellular recycling process that keeps your cells healthy and balanced.

1. Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 
2. Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032
3. Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-4270 
4. Lactobacillus rhamnosus I-3690  
5. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494 
6. Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum SPM 1204 
7. Bifidobacterium longum SPM 1205
8. Bifidobacterium longum SPM 1207 
9. Pediococcus pentosaceus LP28
10. Bacteroides uniformis CECT 7771

**Bacterial Strains Improving Cardiovascular Health**

The following specific bacterial strains have properties that can promote heart health, such as decrease low-density lipoproteins via bile salts hydrolase activity and improve plasma lipid profiles. A novel important new finding is that some strains (list to be provided) significantly reduce p-cresol sulphate, a compound associated with cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease risk.

**Bacterial Strains Improving Dermatological Health**

The following bacterial strains have properties that promote skin health and improve skin clarity and appearance among both children and adults with atopic dermatitis. They reduce inflammation at the surface of the skin.

**Bacteria for Mood Regulation**

1. Lactobacillus plantarum PS128
2. Lactobacillus helveticus ROO52
3. Bifidobacterium longum RO175

What is the Origin of These Bacterial Strains?

Where do these bacterial strains come from? There are basically three places of origin: human naturally-occurring strains,  soil-based organisms (SBO), & bovine-based (from cows).

Human, Naturally-Occurring Bacteria: Human probiotics are bacterial strains that naturally populate your gut and which co-evolved to thrive there. I prefer these strains because they are naturally occurring in your gut and for specific strains, there is extensive research behind their effectiveness.

Soil-Based Organisms (SBO): The newest kids on the block are the soil-based organisms (SBO).  Microspores & megaspores form in plants, ferns, and mosses, but endospores are nonreproductive structures that are resistant to stress and are used to ensure bacteria survive under unfavorable conditions. You’ll find them in the soil. They are hearty and resilient, so chances are, they can survive digestion to the gut better than many sensitive strains, but many scientists argue they don’t belong there. This industry has grown as well, so you’ll start to see companies taking liberties with the truth.  We found some of these “spore” companies are advertising themselves as “megaspores” but do not contain any of the protective cell walls of any spores. Instead, they consist of a mixture of living bacterial cultures, many from the Bacillus family, that are known to commonly produce spores. The issue is that when they form spores, we don’t know what they are displacing. Because of the lack of research here, I’d recommend using them for short term and then going back to human or bovine based bacterial strains.

Bovine-Based Bacteria: The final type of bacterial strains are found in bovine (cow) – derived products like yogurt and kefir. The two most commonly used species for making fermented milk products are Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus. These two are not considered “probiotic” organisms because of their inability to survive the journey through stomach acid. Probiotics (Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterial species and strains, like Lactobacillus acidophilus, which you’ve probably heard of) that are present in fermented dairy products are there because they were added.

Because of the “delivery” vehicle for these probiotics (i.e. milk), they are unsuitable for use by vegans. However, many of these strains were originally derived from human intestinal sources and can be commercially produced in high-quality bacterial fermentation facilities where hygiene and dairy-free conditions can be controlled.

Are The Bacterial Strains Certified? i.e. Are You Getting What You Paid For?

Are you getting the bacterial strains promised on the bottle? Not necessarily. A study University of California San Diego found that only 1 in 16 bottles of probiotics actually contained the strains and the potency listed on the label. Think about that, 15 out of 16 products tested had different bacteria in the capsule than what was claimed. That means you have no idea what kind of bacteria you are putting into your body. I’m a mom of a child with food allergies and that is a very frightening proposition. Unless the company producing your probiotics conducts whole genome sequencing on their product after manufacturing, there is no guarantee that you will receive the strains listed on the label.

Probiotic Delivery System– Is the Bacteria Getting to Your Gut?

There are several ways that a probiotic company encapsulates its product to ensure it survives your stomach acid and gets all the way to your gut where it belongs. Survivability rate is not necessarily guaranteed though.

One test, in particular, can give you that answer. The Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®) is the closest model of the human gut ever developed. Some really serious companies will put their probiotic through this simulator to see how it survives. The question to answer here is ‘does the bacteria survive the stress of stomach acids, bile salts, and the entire digestive process to arrive at your gut intact?’ Finding a company utilizing this testing procedure is preferred.

The survival rate of a probiotic would be affected by a range of factors including storage temperatures, pH, post-acidification during fermentation, & hydrogen peroxide production. Humidity (outside a capsule or powder) and moisture (known as water activity) within a capsule or powder) can also impact survival rate. Because of all these factors, several different encapsulations have arisen over the years. These capsules typically contain an active agent or core material surrounded by a coating or shell. These shell materials range from a variety of polymers, carbohydrates, fats, and waxes. My preference is for encapsulation that keeps the product room temperature and hearty enough to get to my gut. Here are some of the choices you’ll have in encapsulation technology:

1. Alginate (usually Calcium Alginate or Sodium Alginate): One research group showed that alginate could pass through the stomach without any degradation. Given that alginate salts are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and low cost, many brands have encapsulated their products with sodium alginate.
2. Carrageenan: This is a group of linear (non-branched) carbohydrate polymers that have sulfur groups attached to the chain. Carrageenan gelation is induced by temperature changes. A rise in temperature (60 to 80 °C) is required to dissolve it and gelation occurs by cooling to room temperature. The use of carrageenan in microencapsulation of probiotics is due to its capacity to form gel that can entrap the cells. However, the cell slurry should be added to the heat-sterilized suspension between 40 and 45 °C, otherwise, the gel hardens at room temperature. These gels can be brittle.
3. Gelatin: Gelatin is frequently used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. It is a protein derived by partial hydrolysis of the collagen of animal origin only. Gelatin has a very special structure, low cost, versatile functional properties, and forms a very soluble, high viscosity solution in water, which sets to a gel during cooling. It does not form beads but could still be considered as material for microencapsulation.
4. Chitosan: Chitosan is a positively charged carbohydrate polymer formed by deacetylation of chitin, (usually extracted from the shells of shellfish). Its solubility is pH-dependent. However, studies have reported the effectiveness of chitosan as a coating agent of alginate gel beads. Chitosan alone is rarely used for encapsulation.
5. Whey proteins: Whey proteins are usually used because of their amphoteric character, that is, they exhibit acidic and basic (alkaline) chemical attributes. They can be easily mixed with negatively charged polysaccharides such as alginate, carrageenan or pectin
6. Hypromellose OR Cellulose acetate phthalate: This part is tricky because some brands are using phthalates and not telling you. Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAPh) is a chemically modified carbohydrate polymer insoluble at a pH below 5 but and soluble when the pH is greater than 6. Phthalates are known as plasticizers, imparting flexibility to otherwise rigid chemicals. It’s widely used as a coating agent to confer resistance to acid, AKA an enteric coating (promoting the release in the intestines, after the stomach). Phthalates coating is obviously something we do not recommend because it’s an endocrine-disrupting chemical. The other type of cellulose is referred to as “hypromellose” and is fine.
7. Locust bean gum & other starches: Locust bean gum and starches are usually mixed with alginate or carrageenan to develop gel beads or capsules. It appears that specific interactions occur during mixing. The ratio between the proportions of each biomaterial before mixing is essential.

Prebiotics: The Other Half of the Equation

Now that you know all about probiotics, let’s talk about prebiotics. Let’s start that with what they are, because their function has evolved as science has advanced. The simplest and most reductive answer is ‘food for your good bacteria’. This originated from the theory that by targeting and nourishing ‘beneficial bacteria’ in your body, you can boost their population and therefore displace or reduce the ability for ‘bad bacteria’ to grow. Makes sense, but scientists have also realized that bacteria can actually biotransform certain prebiotic compounds into secondary metabolites, like short-chain fatty acids, increasing their bioavailability in the body and contributing to health.

The scientific definition has now expanded to be ‘a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms, conferring a health benefit’–in other words, it’s not just about what bacteria ‘eat’ but also what bacteria can ‘use’.

European Union Standards vs. United States Standards

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has superior consumer health guidelines, especially in the probiotics category. Essentially, if a product claims to be a probiotic, it must have clinical studies to back up that claim. In other words, you have to prove what you are saying.

In the United States, that’s not how it works. Here, probiotics are classified as supplements, and the supplement industry has very lax regulation. The term ‘probiotic’ is also unregulated so companies can put the word on anything from ice cream to potato chips. When you purchase a probiotic brand that also meets European standards (assuming it’s the same formulation), you know it’s more trustworthy.

Pesticide Residue and Probiotic Supplements

This is a new issue, but has your probiotic been tested for pesticides like glyphosate? There are laboratory standardized tests that can detect 400+ pesticides and other ones you can test for glyphosate to about 10 ppb (parts per billion), which is like a drop in an Olympic-sized pool. If a brand has Detox Project Glyphosate Residue Free Certification or can demonstrate third party testing from sophisticated facilities with the correct testing capabilities, that would mean they are very clean. Organic may not be enough in this area because trace amounts of pesticides can show up in organic products from drift or overseas processing.

Is This Company Thinking About How Their Packaging Impacts the Planet and Human Health? GLASS PLEASE!

Mamavation has consistently covered issues around leaching of chemicals out of plastics. Above all else, we prefer companies to use dark-colored glass to hold supplements, especially probiotics. Plastics, when heated, can leach plasticizer chemicals into whatever is inside the bottle. The real problem here is no one really has an answer to what temperature that is. According to Mamavation advisors, some hormone-disrupting chemicals like bisphenols can leach at room temperature. Even if the bottle is a safer #5 plastic, we still prefer glass.

If you want the best of all worlds, look for a brand that uses Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-Certified shipping boxes and no plastic containers or bottles to deliver that probiotic to you. Over the years, Mamavation has received lots of packages of products to try. Some of our favorite shipping packagings include compostable mycelium packaging, which replaces styrofoam but is made of mushrooms and dissolvable corn for cushioning and insulation.

Actions You Can Take To Give You Better Digestive Health Without The Probiotics

1. Eat a diverse range of plants including trying new veggies or ones you don’t eat often especially cruciferous ones!  It is estimated that 75% of the world’s food is produced from only 12 plants. You definitely want to eat more than that weekly.
2. Increase your fiber intake by eating plenty of fruits, vegetables & legumes–they have plenty of fiber that feeds the beneficial bacteria already in your gut. Things like apples, artichokes, blueberries, almonds, and pistachios have all been shown to increase Bifidobacteria in humans.
3. Eat fermented foods. Condiments used to be fermented and today we have less foods to eat that are naturally fermented so try yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha, tempeh, and fermented ketchup. Be mindful that commercially fermented foods may have excess sugar.
4. Avoid artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose because they have been known to feed bad bacteria in your gut.
5. Try to breastfeed for at least 6 months and opt for a vaginal delivery if possible. This gives the baby the best microbial foundation to set them up for the rest of their lives.
6. Eat foods that are rich in polyphenols like red wine, pomegranate, dark chocolate, green tea, blueberries, almonds, & onions because they support the growth of good bacteria while providing additional health benefits.
7. Spend more time in nature “earthing” because studies are showing that it reduces stress, lowers activity in the brain linked to negative rumination, and helps you combat anxiety, and depression. Living with less stress will also support your gut health.
8. Avoid using harsh cleaning products. Use these non-toxic cleaning products instead.
9. MEDICATIONS: Avoid overuse of antibiotics, that kill all bacteria in your gut. And also avoid overuse of NSAID medication like Aleve, Motrin, Advil or Celebrex.
10. Get a dog. Adding pets to your family are linked with more diverse bacteria and better health overall.

THE BIG REVEAL: Mamavation’s Recommendation for a Probiotic & Prebiotic in one–Seed’s Daily Synbiotic–From Leah Segedie, Founder of Mamavation.

I’ve been testing out probiotics for over a decade. They have varied in quality over the years, but more recently I tried Seed Daily Synbiotic and have noticed improvements in my gut health, energy levels, skin, and inflammation in my body. I’ve never had a probiotic do so many things for my health before. Most of the time, I notice a slight improvement, but not this much. I started noticing results within the first week, first month and six months later.

Finding a probiotic that worked so well got me thinking, why was this working in ways that others had not? That’s what started this investigation. After spending months researching the probiotic industry, this is what emerged.

Seed’s probiotic is a synbiotic, combining 24 DNA-verified human-based probiotic bacterial strains with a prebiotic and a strong capsule. It’s also biofermented in Europe and free of all 14 allergen classes under the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). That means they can sell in Europe and everything they are stating is backed by science.

1. What strains, not just species, are included in the formulation? Bifidobacterium longum SD-BB536-JP, Bifidobacterium breve SD-BR3-IT, Lactobacillus plantarum SD-LP1-IT, Lactobacillus rhamnosus SD-LR6-IT, Lactobacillus reuteri SD-LRE2-IT, Bifidobacterium longum HRVD90b-US, Bifidobacterium lactis RD-BS5-IT, Lactobacillus casei HRVD300-US, Bifidobacterium breve HRVD521-US, Bifidobacterium lactis HRVD524-US, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HRVD113-US, Bifidobacterium lactis SD-150-BE, Lactobacillus rhamnosus SD-GG-BE, Lactobacillus reuteri SD-RD830-FR, Bifidobacterium adolescentis SD-BA5-IT, Lactobacillus crispatus SD-LCR01-IT, Lactobacillus fermentum SD-LF8-IT, Lactobacillus plantarum SD-LPLDL-UK, Bifidobacterium lactis SD-MB2409-IT, Lactobacillus salivarius SD-LS1-IT, Bifidobacterium lactis SD-CECT8145-SP, Bifidobacterium longum SD-CECT7347-SP, Lactobacillus casei SD-CECT9104-SP
2. Have these strains been clinically-studied to do something? If so, what? Seed’s Daily Synbiotic includes 24 DNA verified bacterial strains that are linked to benefits beyond digestive health, including heart health, skin health, gut immune function, reproductive health, gut barrier integrity, and oxidative stress. The daily Synbiotic also increases folate production from within the body, which is great for pregnancy.
3. Are these strains included in their clinically-verified dosages? Yes
4. What is the origin of the strains? Are they human, soil, animal or dairy? Human-based bacterial strains
5. Have the strains been sequenced? Do you know if the strains listed on the jar or box match what is being advertised? Yes
6. How do you know the probiotics inside will survive digestion and arrive where it matters–in your colon?  The capsule contains a Chlorophyllin exterior which shields it from light, while the liquid prebiotic suspension acts as an additional barrier to oxygen, moisture, and heat (which bacteria are sensitive to). Seed makes public their testing from the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®), which is the most difficult deliverability test simulating the human gut.
7. Does it contain a prebiotic? Yes, it contains a prebiotic made from pomegranate, organic Scandinavian Chaga mushroom extract (mycelium), & organic Scandinavian pine.
8. Does the product exceed FDA regulations and ascribe to more stringent global standards like EFSA (Europe) or FOSHU (Japan)? Yes, this means that all claims are substantiated.
9. Has this product been tested for pesticide residue? Will the company share laboratory information or get third party certification? Yes, Seed is sharing all their glyphosate testing laboratory results. And it’s from a lab that I trust. They are non-detect, meaning they aren’t able to detect glyphosate or AMPA (a breakdown chemical) at or above 10 parts per billion, which is the lowest you can go, in their probiotic.
10. Does this brand use plastic? NO, they use a dark green glass bottle. They also use compostable Mycelium Tray packaging and FSC certified boxes. Refills come in a similar fashion to cut down on waste.

Sign up for Monthly Delivery of Seed’s Daily Synbiotic

We successfully reached out to Seed to get the Mamavation community a 20% discount. Learn more about Seed’s Daily Synbiotic here. If you would like to test them out, you can sign up for a monthly membership and delivery for $49.99 per month. Click here to get 20% off your first month. Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off your first month. 

Mamavation’s Investigation of Probiotic Brands

Mamavation looked at over 70+ probiotic brands and ranked them based on the different criteria we presented above. Instead of ranking brands in our normal bad, better, best fashion. We decided to rank them first based on the strains they are using AND THEN on how we ranked them. Stick around for the end and we will go over our favorite.

• Best brands had good encapsulations without phthalates, included more than one bacterial strain with evidence of human health benefit and tons of clinical research, included a prebiotic, had a good reputation, didn’t oversell their products, had at least 10 billion live organisms, & take online reputation very seriously. I’ve also included brands in here that I’ve seen improvement in my own health from using or who have reputable certifications I think are important like Glyphosate-Residue Free certification from The Detox Project or openly sharing laboratory reports with customers on pesticide residue or allergens, e.g. gluten, rather than just saying it.
• Better brands are light years ahead of bad brands, but still had some open issues like the following: the origin of the strains was unclear, perhaps made statements that weren’t completely backed up by research, wasn’t clear about contents of encapsulations, we are unsure about phthalate content, didn’t include a prebiotic, use of titanium dioxide, the website may have had some spelling or grammatical errors prompting us to think that lack of care may be a reflection of the quality of the product, includes specific strains that may be aggressive in the digestive tract to sensitive individuals, didn’t respond to questions about their product, etc.
• Bad brands had more issues in various ways because we noticed more problems. No brands are perfect, but this was how it shook out when compared to each other. Here are some issues we witnessed: very little information about their product in general, inadequate or zero disclosure of bacterial strains, could have some legal problems or lawsuits, may have poor representation online meaning we also questioned quality inside the bottle, using strains that have no clinical research behind it and statements made that were not backed up by research, didn’t include a prebiotic, use of additives, fillers and/or preservatives, bad encapsulation, include specific strains that may be aggressive in the digestive tract to sensitive individuals, didn’t respond to questions about their product, etc.

Because probiotics can help you in so many ways, we’ve structured this investigation so you can see the differences. Each category of health benefit will have three levels of recommended brands. You’ll notice some repeating brands because they have lots of valuable strains. These are the categories we are going to assess based on clinical research, i.e. research done on humans:

• Feminine health & fertility
• Digestive health
• Metabolism
• Healthy heart
• Skin
• Mood regulation & good vibes

FEMININE HEALTH & FERTILITY: Strains Improving Natural Folate Production in Body and Improving Vaginal Health, as well as Potentially Improving Fertility By Alleviating Dysbiosis

-Best Brands (alphabetically):

• Bio Schwartz Advanced Strength Probiotic
• Now Foods Probiotic-10™ 100 Billion Veg Capsules
• Seed Daily Synbiotic (Use “MAMAVATION” discount code for 20% off first order)

-Better brands (alphabetically):

• Accuflora Probiotic Supplements
• Amare Global Probiotics
• Bio-K+ Probiotic Supplement Capsule (25 billion)
• Bio-Kult Original (UK Version)
• Culturelle Digestive Health Daily Probiotic Capsules
• Custom Probiotics Adult Formula CP-1
• Designs for Health Probiotic Synergy
• Dr. MK–Teen/Adult Probiotics Chewable by Doctor MK’s
• Florajen Women’s Probiotics
• Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics 70billion CFU
• Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics Professional Formula
• Flora Adult’s Probiotic
• Garden of Life Raw Probiotics™ Ultimate Care
• Holistic Blends Super Shield Probiotic
• Hyperbiotics Pro-15
• Jarro-Dophilus EPS®
• Isagenix – IsaBiome™ Probiotics
• Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete
• Lifeway Kefir Probugs
• Natren Healthy Trinity Probiotic
• Pure Encapsulations Probiotic 50B
• Visbiome Extra Strength High Potency Probiotic

–Unsure What’s Going On Here🤷‍♀️Brands (alphabetically):

• Advocare ProBiotic RESTORE™ ULTRA
• Country Life Probiotic Daily Powder
• CVS Health Maximum Strength Probiotic
• DNA Miracles – for babies–NutraMetrix DNA Miracles® Probiotics Extra
• doTERRA DigestZen PB Assist+
• Good Health Naturally Prescript Biotics (UK) (SBS)
• JayLabPro Probiotics
• Mary Ruth’s Organic Liquid Probiotic
• Neora Prolistic™ Pre & Probiotic Plus Vitamins
• Nutrition Now PB8 Acidophilus
• Plexus Bio 5
• Prescript-Assist® SBO Broad Spectrum Probiotic & Prebiotic
• Pro-MOMs Time Released, Designed for Expecting & Nursing Women
• Renew Life Daily Balance Probiotics & Organic Prebiotics

DIGESTIVE HEALTH: Brands with Probiotic Strains Improving Digestive Health/Anti-Oxidative Stress/GI Immunity/ Mitrochondirial Metabolism

-Best Brands (alphabetically):

• Bio-Schwartz Advanced Strength Probiotic
• Now Foods Probiotic-10™ 100 Billion Veg Capsules
• Seed Daily Synbiotic (Use “MAMAVATION” discount code for 20% off first order)

-Better Brands (alphabetically):

• Accuflora Probiotic Supplement
• Align Probiotic
• Amare Global Probiotics
• Bio-K+ Probiotic Supplement Capsule (25 billion)
• Bio-Kult Original (UK Version)
• Culturelle Digestive Health Daily Probiotic Capsules
• Custom Probiotics Adult Formula CP-1
• Designs for Health Probiotic Synergy
• Dr. MK–Teen/Adult Probiotics Chewable by Doctor MK’s
• Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics 70billion CFU
• Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics Professional Formula
• Flora Adult’s Probiotic
• Florajen Women’s Probiotics
• Garden of Life Raw Probiotics™ Ultimate Care
• Holistic Blends Super Shield Probiotics
• Hyperbiotics Pro-15
• Isagenix – IsaBiome™ Probiotics
• Jarro-Dophilus EPS®
• Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete
• Lifeway Kefir Probugs
• Metagenics UltraFlora Control
• New Chapter Probiotic all-flora™
• Natren Healthy Trinity Probiotic
• Organic3 GutPro Probiotic
• Phillips Colon Health Probiotic Capsules
• Pure Encapsulations Probiotic 50B
• Regular Girl Original Powder
• Thorne FloraMend Prime Probiotic
• Visbiome Extra Strength High Potency Probiotic

–Unsure What’s Going On Here🤷‍♀️Brands (alphabetically):

• Advocare ProBiotic RESTORE™ ULTRA
• Bioptimizers P3-OM Probiotics
• Country Life Probiotic Daily Powder
• CVS Health Maximum Strength Probiotic
• DNA Miracles- for babies–NutraMetrix DNA Miracles® Probiotics Extra
• doTERRA DigestZen PB Assist+
• Dr. Axe (SBO) Probiotics
• Good Health Naturally
• JayLabPro Probiotics
• Mary Ruth’s Organic Liquid Probiotic
• Neora Prolistic™ Pre & Probiotic Plus Vitamins
• Nutrition Now PB8 Acidophilus
• Plexus ProBio 5
• PRO-Moms Time Released, Designed for Expecting & Nursing Women
• Renew Life Daily Balance Probiotics & Organic Prebiotics

METABOLISM: Brands with Probiotic Strains Improving Metabolism & Energy Production

-Best Brands (alphabetically):

• Bio Schwartz Advanced Strength Probiotic
• Now Foods Probiotic-10™ 100 Billion Veg Capsules
• Seed Daily Synbiotic (Use “MAMAVATION” discount code for 20% off first order)

-Better Brands (alphabetically):

• Accuflora Probiotic Supplement
• Bio-K+ Probiotic Supplement Capsule (25 billion)
• Bio-Kult Original (UK Version)
• Culturelle Digestive Health Daily Probiotic Capsules
• Custom Probiotics Adult Formula CP-1
• Dr. MK–Teen/Adult Probiotics Chewable by Doctor MK’s
• Florjen Women Probiotics
• Designs for Health Probiotic Synergy
• Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics 70billion CFU
• Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics Professional Formula
• Flora Adult’s Probiotic
• Garden of Life Raw Probiotics™ Ultimate Care
• Holistic Blends Super Shield
• Hyperbiotics Pro-15
• Isagenix – IsaBiome™ Probiotics
• Jarro-Dophilus EPS®
• Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete
• Lifeway Kefir Probugs
• Metagenics UltraFlora Control
• Natren Healthy Trinity Probiotic
• New Chapter Probiotic all-flora™
• Organic3 GutPro Probiotic
• Phillips Colon Health Probiotic Capsules
• Pure Encapsulations Probiotic 50B
• Thorne FloraMend Prime Probiotic
• Visbiome Extra Strength High Potency Probiotic

–Unsure What’s Going On Here🤷‍♀️Brands (alphabetically):

• Advocare ProBiotic RESTORE™ ULTRA
• biOptimizers P3-OM Probiotics
• Country Life Probiotic Daily Powder
• DNA Miracles – for babies–NutraMetrix DNA Miracles® Probiotics Extra
• doTERRA DigestZen PB Assist+
• Dr. Axe (SBO) Probiotics
• Good Health Naturally Probiotic UK version
• Mary Ruth’s Organic Liquid Probiotic
• Neora Prolistic™ Pre & Probiotic Plus Vitamins
• Nutrition Now PB8 Acidophilus
• Plexus ProBio 5
• Pro-MOMs Time Released, Designed for Expecting & Nursing Women
• Renew Life Daily Balance Probiotics & Organic Prebiotics

HEALTHY HEART: Brands with Probiotic Strains Improving Cardiovascular Health

-Best Brands (alphabetically):

• Bio Schwartz Advanced Strength Probiotic
• Now Foods Probiotic-10™ 100 Billion Veg Capsules
• Seed Daily Synbiotic (Use “MAMAVATION” discount code for 20% off first order)

-Better Brands (alphabetically):

• Accuflora Probiotic Supplement
• Bio-Kult Original (UK Version)
• Custom Probiotics Adult Formula CP-1
• Dr. MK–Teen/Adult Probiotics Chewable by Doctor MK’s
• Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics 70billion CFU
• Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics Professional Formula
• Flora Adult’s Probiotic
• Garden of LifeRaw Probiotics™ Ultimate Care
• Holistic Blends Super Shields Probiotic
• Hyperbiotics Pro-15
• Isagenix – IsaBiome™ Probiotics
• Jarro-Dophilus EPS®
• Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete
• Lifeway Kefir Probugs
• Organic3 GutPro Probiotic
• Pure Encapsulations Probiotic 50B
• Regular Girl Original Powder
• Visbiome Extra Strength High Potency Probiotic

–Unsure What’s Going On Here🤷‍♀️Brands (alphabetically):

• Bioptimization P3-OM Probiotics
• Country Life Probiotic Daily Powder
• doTERRA DigestZen PB Assist+
• Dr. Axe (SBO) Probiotics
• Good Health Naturally Probiotic UK version
• JayLabPro Probiotics
• Mary Ruth’s Organic Liquid Probiotic
• Nutrition Now PB8 Acidophilus
• Plexus Pro-Bio 5
• Pro-MOMs Time Released, Designed for Expecting & Nursing Women
• Renew Life Daily Balance Probiotics & Organic Prebiotics

SKIN: Brands with Probiotic Strains Improving Dermatological Health

-Best Brands (alphabetically):

• Seed Daily Synbiotic (Use “MAMAVATION” discount code for 20% off first order)

-Better Brands (alphabetically):

• Accuflora Probiotic Supplement
• Amare Global Probiotic
• Custom Probiotics Adult Formula CP-1
• Designs for Health Probiotic Synergy
• Dr. MK–Teen/Adult Probiotics Chewable by Doctor MK’s
• Florjen Women’s Probiotics
• Garden of Life Raw Probiotics™ Ultimate Care
• Isagenix – IsaBiome™ Probiotics
• Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete
• Metagenics UltraFlora Control
• Natren Healthy Trinity Probiotic
• Organic3 GutPro Probiotic
• Phillips Colon Health Probiotic Capsules
• Regular Girl Original Powder
• Thorne FloraMend Prime Probiotic
• Visbiome Extra Strength High Potency Probiotic

–Unsure What’s Going On Here🤷‍♀️Brands (alphabetically):

• Advocare ProBiotic RESTORE™ ULTRA
• Country Life Probiotic Daily Powder
• CVS Health Maximum Strength Probiotic
• doTERRA DigestZen PB Assist+
• Good Health Naturally Prescript
• JayLabPro Probiotics
• Mary Ruth’s Organic Liquid Probiotic
• Plexus ProBio5
• PRO-Moms Time Released, Designed for Expecting & Nursing Women

GOOD VIBES: Brands with Probiotic Strains Improving Mood Regulation

-Best Brands (alphabetically): 

• Bio Schwartz Advanced Strength Probiotic
• Now Foods Probiotic-10™ 100 Billion Veg Capsules

-Better Brands (alphabetically):

• Accuflora Probiotic Supplement
• Amare Global Probiotics
• Bio-Kult Original (UK Version)
• Custom Probiotics Adult Formula CP-1
• Designs for Health Probiotic Synergy
• Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics 70billion CFU
• Dr. MK–Teen/Adult Probiotics Chewable by Doctor MK’s
• Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics Professional Formula
• Flora Adult’s Probiotic
• Garden of Life Raw Probiotics™ Ultimate Care
• Holistic Super Shield Probiotic
• Hyperbiotics Pro-15
• Isagenix – IsaBiome™ Probiotics
• Jarro-Dophilus EPS®
• Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete
• Lifeway Kefir Probugs
• Natren Healthy Trinity Probiotic
• New Chapter Probiotic all-flora™
• Organic3 GutPro Probiotic
• Phillips Colon Health Probiotic Capsules
• Pure Encapsulations Probiotic 50B
• Seeking Health ProBiota Bifido – 60 Capsules
• Ther-Biotic Complete
• Up4 Probiotic Ultra
• Visbiome Extra Strength High Potency Probiotic
• Young Living KidScents Mighty Pro

-Unsure What’s Going On Here🤷‍♀️Brands (alphabetically): 

• Advocare ProBiotic RESTORE™ ULTRA
• biOptimizers P3-OM Probiotics
• Country Life Real Food Probiotic Daily Powder
• CVS Health Maximum Strength Probiotic
• doTERRA DigestZen PB Assist+
• Dr. Axe (SBO) Probiotics
• Good Health Naturally Prescript Biotics (UK) (SBS)
• JayLabPro Probiotics
• Mary Ruth’s Organic Liquid Probiotic (SBO’s)
• Neora Prolistic™ Pre & Probiotic Plus Vitamins
• Nutrition Now PB8 Acidophilus
• Plexus ProBio 5
• Pro Moms Time Released, Designed for Expecting & Nursing Women
• Renew Life Daily Balance Probiotics & Organic Prebiotics
• Vitacost Generic Probiotic
• Wink Naturals prebiotic & probiotic

We evaluated over 70+ brands but some brands did not make it into the lists above because the bacterial strains they were using had limited or no clinical research. So how are we to assess what it does? We can’t. So we left them off these lists. This only means that there is little or no data. That has no bearing on whether it works for you or not. We recognize there is still “but does it work for you?” quality you will have to assess yourself.

Here is a full list of all the brands we considered when forming this investigation:

Accuflora, Advocare, Align, Amare Global, Arbonne’s Digestion Plus, Bio Schwartz, Bio-K+, Bio-Kult (UK version), biOptimizers, Clar8ty, Country Life Realfood Organics, Culturelle, Custom Probiotics, CVS Generic Brand, Designs for Health, DNA Miracles for Baby, DoTERRA PB Assist, Dr. Axe (SBO), Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics, Dr. MK Probiotics, Dr. Ohirra’s -Professional, Flora’s Adult Formula, Florajen, Florastor, Garden of Life, GHT Threelac, Good Health Naturally Prescript (UK version), Holistic Blend Super Shield, Hyperbiotics, Inner Eco Fresh Coconut Water Probiotic, Isagenix – IsaBiome™ Probiotics, Isotonix Market America, Jarro Dophilus, JayLabPro, Just Thrive, Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete, Lifeway Kefir Probugs, Mary Ruth’s Organic Liquid Probiotic (SBO’s), MegaSpore Biotic Microbiome Plus+ Gastrointestinal, Metagenics, Modere, Natren, Neora, New Chapter, Now Foods Probiotic (also known as Now Probiotic), Nutrition Now Pb8 Acidophilus, Organic3, Phillips Colon Health Probiotic Capsules, Plexus, ProBio 5, Prescript Assist, PRO-Moms ProBioGen, Pure Encapsulations, Purium Biome Medic, Regular Girl, Renew Life, Sarvaa Supergoods, Seed, Seeking Health, Shaklee Optiflora Prebiotic and Pearl Probiotic, Smarty Pants AdultsSmarty Pants Kids, Standard Process, Ther-Biotic Complete, Trvani, Up4, Visbiome, Vitacost generic, VSL #3, Visbiome, Wink Naturals prebiotic & probiotic, Young Living KidScents Mighty Pro