For every day EXTRA Strength

Recommended use

• For best results take 1 capsule daily or as professionally directed.
• One capsule consists of a minimum of 20 billion live Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM^®, Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37^®, Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07^® and Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04^®.
• Can be increased to 2 capsules a day if desired - for ongoing use 1 capsule a day may suffice.
• Take with food, preferably with breakfast.
• For anyone unable to swallow capsules, the capsule can be opened and the contents sprinkled into cool food or drinks.
• Do not exceed recommended daily dosage.

Storage instructions

No refrigeration necessary when stored in a cool, dry place below 25°C. 

Customer Questions

All questions answered by friendly bacteria experts Dr Aisling Dwyer MB BCh BAO (Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics), MSc (Personalised Nutrition)​ and Dr Kate Stephens PhD (Food and Microbial Sciences) BSc(Hons) Medical Microbiology.

Is it OK to take live cultures every day?

Yes, it is safe and generally advisable to take live cultures daily. Good bacteria colonise in the gut for a few weeks but research^1,2,3 suggests that the good bacteria strains will disappear without regular supplementation, so for this reason you might wish to take them regularly.

Should you take live cultures on a full or empty stomach?

The concern is that bacteria are delicate by nature, and that they may not survive stomach acid. Taking live cultures at a certain time of day (when stomach acidity is closer to neutral) could help ensure the highest survival rates of the good bacteria. Confusingly though, different healthcare professionals and live cultures manufacturers have different guidelines about when is best to take these supplements! So, let us try to clarify a few things.

First, let us look at the logic behind taking live cultures on an empty stomach, advocated by some. Well, because acid is stimulated by consumption of food, it is thought that taking live cultures on an empty stomach (mainly first thing in the morning) is ideal because there is less residual acid in the stomach. However, it is also important to note that there is a lag time (up to 30 minutes) between when food is eaten and when acid is released into the stomach

With a few exceptions, it’s best to take your live cultures supplements with a breakfast, as the food helps to buffer the effects of stomach acid; it may also help to facilitate the passage of the friendly bacteria through the stomach, and ensure that they are well mixed with the stomach contents as they pass into the small intestines.

How long should you take live cultures for?

This depends on why you are taking them: some people like to take specific strains at certain times, for example during pregnancy, when travelling abroad, or during the winter flu season. However, if you prefer general daily supplementation, then take your supplements every day. There is no current research to suggest the body becomes dependent on good bacteria, so long-term supplementation is also fine.

References

1. Mimura, T. et al. (2004). 'Once daily high dose probiotic therapy (VSL#3) for maintaining remission in recurrent or refractory pouchitis'. Gut, 53(1): 108-114
2. Morelli L et al., 2004. 'Utilisation of the intestinal tract as a delivery system for urogenital probiotics'. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology; 38(6): 107-110
3. Jacobsen et al., 1999. 'Screening of probiotic activities of 47 strains of Lactobacillus spp. by in vitro techniques and evaluation of the colonisation ability of 5 selected strains in humans'. Applied and Environmental Microbiology; 65 (11): 4949-4956

Safety

Live cultures are not recommended for those with serious medical conditions e.g. those who are severely immunosuppressed, have pancreatitis, are in the ICU, have melaena, have a central venous catheter, short bowel syndrome, or patients with open wounds following major surgery; unless under a doctor's care. Keep out of reach and sight of children.

This is a food supplement and is not intended to prevent, treat or diagnose any medical conditions. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle. If you are taking any medications or have a serious medical condition, consult a doctor before use. OptiBac supplements will not cause dependency and may be used on an ongoing basis.

Ingredients

• Stabiliser: micro-crystalline cellulose
• Live cultures: Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM^®, Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37^®, Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07^®, Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04^®
• Vegetarian capsule: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose; anticaking agents: vegetable magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide.

Each capsule guarantees 20 billion live cultures.

Suitable for vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, gluten free, yeast-free or soy free diets. GMO free. Free from artificial flavourings, colourings and preservatives typically found in other food & drinks containing probiotics. No chemicals or parabens. Sugar free.

This product should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet.

Customer questions

All questions answered by friendly bacteria experts Dr Aisling Dwyer MB BCh BAO (Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics), MSc (Personalised Nutrition)​ and Dr Kate Stephens PhD (Food and Microbial Sciences) BSc(Hons) Medical Microbiology.

How strong should live cultures be? 

When choosing a live cultures supplement, remember that high strength does not always mean high quality.
Rather than looking at the number of billions, it is far more important to look at the good bacteria strains it contains. It is best to choose a supplement containing high-quality strains which have been used in gold standard clinical trials. High-quality supplements will typically contain the same number of billions used in the clinical trials; sometimes lower doses perform just as well as high doses1 so it is not worth paying extra for more billions than you need.

However, some people do better on a higher dose, and it is fine to experiment and increase the dose of any of our products; ultimately it all depends on your individual needs and responses to the supplement. 

Can a live cultures supplements be too strong?

The human gut is home to roughly 100 trillion bacteria, so the dose contained in even our highest strength live cultures supplements (20-50 billion) is comparatively small. Many people take several of our supplements at the same time, depending on their individual needs and requirements. We’re all individual, however, so if you tend to be sensitive to new foods and supplements, sometimes it’s best to introduce them gradually. If you want to start with half a dose initially, then our live cultures capsules can be opened, and the contents taken alone.

Following the taxonomic updates published in April 2020, a reclassification has been proposed for the paracasei species, and the paracasei strain in 'For every day EXTRA Strength' may therefore now also be known as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei Lpc-37^®, or still indeed as L. paracasei Lpc-37^® for short.

Customer feedback collected via independent review platform Trustpilot. See 'Reviews' tab for more customer opinions collected via our own website.

References

1. Eskesen et al. (2015) Effect of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, BB-12®, on defecation frequency in healthy subjects with low defecation frequency and abdominal discomfort: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Br J Nutr; 114, 10: 1638-46.

Customer reviews

• One of the best probiotic i've ever had. Also the support is very kind and helpful.

  Isabella - 26th January 2021

• I’ve been using these probiotics for nearly a year and was introduced to them by a friend, Sarah who’s a nutritionist. After speaking to her about my issues with digesting starchy foods she recommended Extra Strength to try and it worked perfectly for me. I have been using them ever since and always buy the 90 day pack as they are better value for money, don’t run out so quickly and uses less plastic. I have continued to take one everyday as it has completely resolved my digestive issues and even have my family on probiotics too! Thank you Optibac for such a positive lifestyle change

  Ama - 17th September 2020

• My daughter has had a few food intolerances, and this product has really helped minimise the effects of certain foods on her tummy. On contacting customer support, they have advised me to also give her S Boulardii which I have found quite useful for her too.

  Jaina - 3rd September 2020

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