Are all types (strains) of friendly bacteria the same?
Not at all! Different probiotic species and strains have unique properties and exert their beneficial effects in different parts of the intestines, so it is important when choosing a probiotic to select a potent formula containing particular strains that support your specific health needs.
When purchasing probiotics it is recommended that you choose a formula with guaranteed viability of probiotic strains, that have been well-researched and documented in their ability to survive the acidic stomach environment and bile salts. Research should also give evidence that the bacteria is able to proliferate well and colonise in the upper and lower intestines where they exert their probiotic benefits. OptiBac Probiotics offer a superior range of probiotic formulas using the most high quality strains.
To discover which product is right for you, read up on specific probiotic strains for specific health conditions.
Probiotic Strains in Depth: Probiotics are normally made up of a genus (eg. Lactobacillus), a species (eg. rhamnosus), and then a strain (eg. Rosell-11). Whilst the genus and species tells us a bit about its properties and where the probiotic settles in the body, it is the probiotic strain itself which determines the volume of research behind a particular probiotic. For example, L. acidophilus is generally accepted to be a good probiotic species; however looking into the specific strains such as NCFM® or Rosell-52 allows us to determine which types of acidophilus have been clinically tested in which situations.