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Probiotic gummies are a supplement option for individuals who do not like swallowing pills or for children.
The gummies are specially formulated to withstand breakdown by stomach acid so that the probiotic bacteria they contain are still viable when they reach the gut. Probiotic gummies may also contain prebiotic fibers, which support the growth of the probiotic organisms.
While these products are growing in popularity, there is still a relatively limited range of probiotic gummy supplements available today. Furthermore, not all strains of beneficial probiotic bacteria may be appropriate for use in gummy manufacturing.
One type of probiotics used in gummies is Bacillus coagulans (sometimes mistakenly refered to as lactobacillus sporogenes). BC30 Bacillus coagulans GBI 30 is the most popular as it has better survivability, compared to other products.
Gut Health
Digestion
Immune Function- Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
- Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
- Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism
Review of Probiotic Gummies
Related Topics
- What are Probiotics?
- Probiotic Benefits
- Best Probiotic Strains
- Probiotic Side Effects
- Probiotic Supplements
- Probiotic Foods
- Best Probiotic Yogurt
- Probiotics for Children
- Probiotics for Women
- Yeast Infections
- What are Prebotics?
- Lactobacillus Acidophilus
- Lactobacillus Bulgaricus
- Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
- Bifidobacterium Bifidum
- Bifidobacterium Infantis
- Bifidus Regularis
Probiotic supplements are available in a number of different forms, including capsules, chewable tablets, powders, liquid drops, and enriched food products. Gummies are increasingly being demanded by consumers who want an easy and enjoyable way to take their daily dose of probiotics.
Unlike other supplements, the probiotic bacteria inside these products are living organisms and they must be maintained in a viable state until they are ready to be consumed and as they pass through the digestive tract.
This can make it difficult to manufacture gummy supplements that include probiotic bacteria. However, a few brands like Schiff, Nature’s Bounty, Renew Life, CVS Pharmacy and Rainbow Light have released probiotic supplements in gummy candy form.
According to Schiff, the manufacturers of Digestive Advantage Probiotic Gummies, their supplement “survives 10X better than other probiotics, including yogurt.”
This product also uses an especially hardy species of probiotic bacteria, BC30 Bacillus coagulans GBI 30. This strain of bacteria is naturally able to survive the harsh, acidic environment of the stomach and has performed well in research studies.
Should You Use Probiotic Gummies?
All of the probiotic gummy products currently sold on Amazon contain some form of the Bacillus coagulans bacteria. Some products, like Rainbow Light Probiolicious Gummies mistakenly identify this strain as Lactobacillus sporogenes, but this is not the correct classification for this bacteria as it is not part of the Lactobacillus family.
This strain of probiotic bacteria is associated with better digestive health and immune health. It can also help to relieve occasional gas, diarrhea and constipation.
However, experts say that the best probiotic supplements should contain a blend of several different strains of beneficial bacteria. Different strains of probiotics have different effects in the body and they can work together to produce synergistic benefits.
Furthermore, the number of Colony Forming Units (CFUs) per serving of probiotic gummies tends to be lower than supplements formulated in capsule or tablet form.
Digestive Advantage Probiotic Gummies sold by Schiff contains 250 million CFUs per gummy with a recommended dosage of 500 million CFUs per day.
According to the Natural Medicines Database, probiotics are more commonly used at a dose of between 1 billion to 10 billion CFUs per day. Some products can provide as much as 50 billion live cells per serving.
What this means is that probiotic gummies may not be as beneficial as some of the other high-dose and multi-strain products on the market. These supplements may be effective as a way to naturally enrich the diet with probiotics, but they may not be strong enough to correct acute imbalances in the microflora.
Top Probiotic Supplements
Benefits of Probiotic Gummies
There has been significant research into the benefits of Bacillus coagulans, the probiotic bacteria commonly used in gummy supplements.
Bacillus coagulans is a spore-forming bacterium that produces lactic acid. It is not found naturally in the human microflora of the gut, but it is commonly included in probiotic supplements alongside lactobacillus and bifidobacterium species.
Bacillus coagulans is useful for infectious diarrhea like the rotaviral diarrhea in children and traveler’s diarrhea as well as antibiotic induced diarrhea. It is used in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
The supplement is a treatment for the helicobacter pylori infection (a cause of stomach ulcers and a risk indicator for stomach cancer) and is helpful in preventing respiratory infections.
An advantage of Bacillus coagulans over the probiotic bacteria lactobacillus is that the bacillus spores are resistant to high temperatures. This means they don’t need to be refrigerated and they survive the stomach acids to reach the gut, making them better for use in probiotic gummy supplements.
Clinical studies done on the main ingredient BC30 Bacillus coagulans GBI 30 show its effectiveness in treating Clostridium difficile
Clostridium difficile is a bacterial infection that can occur after taking antibiotics. The symptoms include diarrhea, a high temperature and painful abdominal cramps. This infection can become life threatening if it causes toxic megacolon. This condition causes a severe swelling of the bowel from an accumulated intestinal gas.
- 5 billion live probiotic cultures per capsules
- Balanced blend of Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium
- Supports a healthy immune system & intestinal flora
Buy Probiotic Gummies
The probiotic gummy brand Digestive Advantage Probiotic Gummies from Schiff, is widely available in drug stores, Walmart and online on Amazon.com.
This product is promoted as a relief supplement for bloating from gas and diarrhea. It is designed for long term use in producing good bacteria for better digestive health.
It is priced at $12.88 for 60 gummier and states it is suitable for children age 5 and up. The recommended dosage is to chew two a day. There are 250 million viable Colony Forming Units (CFUs) per gummy.
Customer reviews are favorable on Amazon.com. One customer said it provided relief within a month of taking them for IBS-D.
Digestive Advantage Probiotic Gummies Plus Fiber is another option. This version of the supplement contains prebiotic fiber, which supports the growth of probiotic bacteria.
The Digestive Advantage Probiotic Gummiesproducts were tested against 20 probiotic yogurts in a gastric-like pH for 2 hours. This supplement showed good survivability when compared against the probiotic yogurts.
Customer reviews are positive on Amazon.com. Customer with IBS-D said this supplement helped reduce allergy symptoms and episodes of constipation. The bottle contains 45 gummies for $21.17.
Are Probiotic Gummies Safe?
Probiotic gummies with Bacillus Coagulans are generally well tolerated with a low risk of side effects for healthy adults. These supplements may cause gas, bloating or digestive discomfort when first using probiotics.
Probiotic supplements should not be taken if pregnant, nursing or on prescription medication without a doctor’s approval. Probiotics should be avoided for people with immunosuppressant conditions and for those using a catheter.
Probiotic gummies are useful for conditions of diarrhea and for maintaining good bacterial flora health. They are a convenient way to enrich the diet with probiotic bacteria, but may not provide sufficient dosages per serving or strain diversity for use in the treatment of specific medical conditions.
- Fitzpatrick, Leo R, Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 limits the recurrence of Clostridium difficile-Induced colitis following vancomycin withdrawal in mice, Gut Pathog. 2012; 4: 13. Published online 2012 Oct 22. doi: 10.1186/1757-4749-4-13
- Fitzpatrick, Leo R, Bacillus Coagulans GBI-30 (BC30) improves indices of Clostridium difficile-Induced colitis in mice. Gut Pathog. 2011 Oct 20;3(1):16. doi: 10.1186/1757-4749-3-16.
- Silva J Jr, Treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis and diarrhea with vancomycin., Am J Med. 1981 Nov;71(5):815-22.
- Louie TJ, Tolevamer, a novel nonantibiotic polymer, compared with vancomycin in the treatment of mild to moderately severe Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea., Clin Infect Dis. 2006 Aug 15;43(4):411-20. Epub 2006 Jul 11.
- Reinke CM, Update on Clostridium difficile-induced colitis, Part 2., Am J Hosp Pharm. 1994 Aug 1;51(15):1892-901; quiz 1958-9.
- Cocanour CS, Best strategies in recurrent or persistent Clostridium difficile infection., Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2011 Jun;12(3):235-9. doi: 10.1089/sur.2010.080. Epub 2011 Jul 18.
