Culturelle Probiotic Ingredients, Side Effects and Reviews

Culturelle is an all-natural probiotic product for adults and kids that contains Lactobacillus GG.

It comes in capsule form and can be found on the shelf of nearly any supermarket, health food store or online supplement shop.

This supplement is promoted for improving digestive health and helping to reduce gastrointestinal upset while supporting immune function.

According to the manufacturer, “Digestive issues occur when there is an imbalance of good and non-beneficial bacteria. By adding good bacteria from a probiotic like Culturelle your digestive system can get back on track.”

The standard Culturelle probiotic supplement contains 10 billion CFUs of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG bacteria. Culturelle notes that to derive the same amount of probiotics from yogurt, you would need to eat 10 servings a day.

In this review of Culturelle, we will investigate the ingredients, side effects and benefits of using this probiotic formulation.

Probiotics

Digestive Supplement

Gut Health

Digestion

Immune Function

How It Works:

• Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
• Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
• Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism

Dosage:

Between 1 - 10 Billion CFUs per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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Culturelle Review

There’s a lot to consider when selecting a probiotic supplement.

A few brand names, including Culturelle, stand out due to a loyal customer base and because they are widely available.

But, how can you tell if a probiotic will work for you?

Probiotics generally fall into one of two genuses: Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria. Each of these genuses contain many different species of probiotic bacteria.

Some species have different strains, each of which may produce different probiotic effects. Culturelle uses a special strain of probiotic bacteria to aid with specific digestive problems.

Culturelle contains the strain L. Rhamnosus GG ATC53103. That is to say, Lactobacillus is the genus; Rhamnosus is the species; and GG ATC53103 is the strain.

This is important because clinical studies demonstrate that different bacterial strains of the same species can create different effects within the human biome. Some strains may confer a beneficial effect on inflammatory processes while others produce an effect which aids in the breakdown and use of fiber.

Culturelle manufacturers typically refer to the strain used within their product as L. Rhamnosus GG.

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG ATC53103

As of July 2013, more research and studies had been done using Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG than any other strain of probiotic bacteria. In fact, nearly 800 studies have been done to date.

The outcomes of these studies include findings showing Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG works to form a strong barrier along the intestinal walls to protect against pathogenic bacteria.

It is a hardy strain which is able to survive the highly acidic environment of the early digestive tract. According to the manufacturers of Culturelle, this product has been clinically shown to improve digestive health and to strengthen the immune system. Each Culturelle capsule contains 10 billion colony forming units (CFU).

Does It Work?

Of the multitude of studies on L. rhamnosus GG, none were large scale, however a few look especially promising with regards to antibiotic related diarrhea, traveler’s diarrhea and diarrhea in children.

For example, one study of over 240 people traveling to different countries around the globe showed that their experience of traveler’s diarrhea was cut by nearly fifty percent.

Another study looked at children who were taking antibiotics. The goal was to determine if L. rhamnosus GG could prevent or reduce incidence of antibiotic-related diarrhea. At the close of the study, only 8% of children receiving the probiotic experienced diarrhea, while 26% of the children receiving placebo experienced diarrhea. This is considered significant.

Another study done with 287 children, sought to determine whether L. rhamnosus GG could prevent or reduce infectious diarrhea, which tends to spread quickly in daycare settings. The infectious diarrhea was reduced by one day in the children receiving the probiotic, when compared to the children receiving a placebo.

Culturelle Dosage

It is recommended to take Culturelle probiotic supplements once daily.

Each capsule of Culturelle contains 10 billion viable microorganisms. The manufacturer uses a double foil sealed packet to protect the bacteria from light, moisture, and air.

As long as the expiration date on the packet has not passed, the number of bacteria is guaranteed to be present and viable within the capsule.

Research shows that the bacteria are able to survive the harsh acids within the stomach and make it through to the intestine where they can confer their beneficial effects on their host.

Culturelle Side Effects

Most people can take probiotics without experiencing any kind of side effects. Some people may experience mild discomfort, bloating or gas when initially beginning a probiotic regimen, but these effects usually subside with continued use. If discomfort continues, cease using the probiotic and consult your doctor.

Some people should not take probiotics unless instructed to do so by a physician. Individuals taking immunosuppressant medications (due to organ transplant or other medical condition) should not take Culturelle supplements.

Individuals with weakened immune systems, as occurs with HIV/AIDS, should not take probiotic supplements unless prescribed by a doctor.

Culturelle Review

Culturelle is a brand name for a probiotic supplement which uses a well-researched strain of Lactobacillus bacteria known to have probiotic effects on humans.

Although users report many benefits including relief of some symptoms experienced with IBS, clinical research is most compelling with regards to the effects Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG has in relations to antibiotic related diarrhea, infectious diarrhea in children and traveler’s diarrhea.

Culturelle is manufactured by Amerifit Brands and is carefully packaged to protect the live bacteria from deleterious factors which affect their viability.

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