Probiotic products are now well established and people are also aware about the beneficial role of probiotic strains. Probiotic are live beneficial microorganisms which provide several health benefits (Hill et al., 2014). Trillions of probiotics microbes are found in our gut, where they participate in a variety of important bodily processes, such as vitamin production, mood regulation, digestion, and immune function (Mohajeri et al., 2018).

Scientist and Researchers across the globe have been investigating the beneficial characteristics of several probiotic strains for human health application. People prefer to take probiotics through various supplements which available in the market as probiotic and Synbiotic products to help reduce symptoms of certain medical conditions, bolster their immune health, improve gut health, and even promote weight loss (McFarland, 2015). Synbiotics are prebiotics combined with probiotics, in which some prebiotic substances improve the growth of probiotic bacteria (Cencic and Chingwaru, 2010). Whereas Prebiotics are typically complex carbohydrates (such as inulin and other fructo-oligosaccharides) that microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract use as metabolic fuel (Gibson et al., 2017). These supplements contain high doses of either a single probiotic strain or multiple probiotic strains.

Important Facts related to Probiotic/ Synbiotic supplements:

  • Probiotics and Synbiotic supplements are the most popular dietary supplements provides different health benefits.
  • It is not necessary to take a probiotic supplement on daily basis but if someone advice to take it due to some health issue, they should take it to get health benefits. There are many excellent products available in the market
  • It is also necessary take right amount of dose with right potency (cfu/g) to get benefits from probiotic supplements. Expert suggested that probiotics must contain at least 100 million to 1 Billion viable CFUs per gram to exert positive effects in the body (Viktoria et al., 2019)
  • The benefits of probiotic are strain specific, so that one size or one product is not fits for all remedies. Particular probiotic strains are much more effective for certain medical conditions and symptoms than others.
  • e effectiveness of probiotic supplements is not only strain-specific but also disease specific, meaning the correct strain and dose must be appropriate for the condition or symptom you intend to treat.
  • Manufacturing processes, shelf life, and formulation type can significantly affect a probiotic supplement’s effectiveness. Therefore, it’s essential to buy probiotics from established, physician-trusted brands.
  • Some probiotics supplements require refrigeration but not all. It contains potential strains which can tolerate the heat and moisture fluctuation at a certain level. Thus, if they don’t require refrigeration, it needs to be store them in a cool and dry place.

Growth of Probiotic market:

Due to high demands of probiotic products among the consumers the market size of this segment increases day by day with a very good CAGR approx. 13.7. Therefore, to meet the demands of probiotics products, every year new players or manufacturer are coming in the probiotic market in different sector like Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals and Probiotic functional food. Some probiotic manufactures focused on production of potential probiotic strains while others engaged in the manufacturing of probiotic or Synbiotic supplements. There are several probiotic manufacturers in USA, who manufacturing and supplying both products either individual strains or finished formulation in the form of probiotic or symbiotic supplements for human health applications.

Some Top Probiotic culture and Supplements manufacturers in USA are:

  1. Kaneka Probiotics: This company is well known for the manufacturing of Clinically-tested probiotic blends, for specific therapeutic and health needs.

  2. Deerland Probiotics and Enzymes: This company engaged in the manufacturing of probiotic vegetative cells and one well studied and potential strain of Bacillus subtilis DEIII.

  3. Probioferm: This company specializing in fermentation and contract fermentation along with the manufacturing of private label Probiotic finished products. It is also manufacturing different probiotic strains like Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracsei, Lactobacillus brevis.

  4. Benebios Inc.: It is a Biotechnology company focused on fulfilling the needs and demands of Probiotic and Dairy cultures. They offer a wide range of probiotics for food, supplement, and animal applications.

  5. Nutra Sciences Labs: It the well know company of USA for the manufacturing of Probiotic health supplements. They are using Popular delivery methods for probiotic products include chewable tablets, capsules, and powders.

  6. Custom Probiotics, Inc.: This company formulates and supplies highest potency and purity single and multi-strain probiotic dietary supplements for children and adults. They manufacturing probiotic supplements in both capsules and powder formulations, ranging from 60 billion CFU probiotic bacteria per capsule to 100-400 billion per gram.

  7. BioSource Cultures & Flavours: This company engaged in the manufacturing of Lactic acid cultures for countless applications throughout the food, human and animal health, and agriculture industries.

  8. Superior Supplement Manufacturing: Manufacturer of standard and custom private label prebiotic and probiotic supplements. Available in liquid, gummy, tablet and capsule forms.

  9. Makers Nutrition: Manufacturer of standard and custom probiotic supplements in chewable tablet, capsule, and powders forms.

  10. Tru Body Wellness: Manufacturer of probiotic supplements for improving a healthy gut and intestinal flora, dietary and nutritional applications.

  11. Probi USA Inc. : They are manufacturer of probiotic healthcare supplements for women, children and seniors.

  12. ResBiotic: They are developing first-in-class products that alleviate the neutrophilic inflammation associated with dysbiosis to improve respiratory health. They have developed formulas that combine clinically studied probiotic strains with science-backed botanicals to support gut, lung, and immune health.

  13. Unlocked labs: Most of the products of this company are a multi- strains blend for general gut health. Their formulation of products delivers a shelf stable probiotic that switches on when it reaches the intestine.

Regulation related to probiotic products in United States:

The regulation related to manufacturing and sales of probiotic supplements in United State is very complex. Depending on a probiotic product’s intended use, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) might regulate it as a dietary supplement, a food ingredient, or a drug (Degnan, 2008).

Dietary supplement labels may make claims about how the product affects the structure or function of the body without FDA approval, but they aren’t allowed to make health claims, such as saying the supplement lowers your risk of getting a disease, without the FDA’s consent. If a probiotic is going to be marketed as a drug it must be proven safe and effective for its intended, use through clinical trials and be approved by the FDA before it can be sold (Degnan, 2008).

Some best Probiotic and Synbiotic supplements of 2023 are:

Among the several formulations of probiotic and Synbiotic supplements, some are very popular in reference of specific health benefits, potency label claim etc. People searching probiotic supplements for different needs, including weight loss, allergies, IBS, and general use (Hill et al., 2014 and Ciorba 2012).


  1. MegaFood MegaFlora: It is consider as best vegan probiotic supplements. It contains 14 potential probiotic strains including Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus with potency 20 Billion cfu. It can help support digestive and immune health. This probiotic is suitable for vegans and free from gluten, dairy, soy, and GMOs.

  2. Life Extension Florassist GI: It is consider as best probiotic supplements for gut health. This product support gastrointestinal health by targeting unwanted bacteria in the GI tract and supporting optimal nutritional absorption. It contains 7 probiotic strains including Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Bifidobacterium animalis with potency 15 Billion cfu.

  3. Culturelle: Culturelle is a well-known brand of probiotics. It contains Lactobacillus rhmanosus GG along with 200mg inulin. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is a probiotic strain whose number of benefits are reported in different health condition such as diarrhea , irritable bowel Syndrome etc. (Capurso, 2019). The label claim of potency or cfu in one capsule is not less than 10 Billion.

  4. Culturelle Women's Healthy Balance Probiotic Capsules: : This probiotic supplement is best for women health problems. One capsules contain 15 billion cfu of multi strains, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus crispatus LBV 88, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LBV 96, Lactobacillus gasseri LBV 150 and Lactobacillus jensenii LBV 116. Lactobacillus gasseri along with other strains provides benefit vaginal and urinary health (Mei and Li, 2022). These strains protect against urinary tract infections by preventing the invasion of potentially harmful pathogens and encouraging a balanced environment in the vagina and urinary tract.

  5. Align Extra Strength: It is a popular brand od probiotic supplements which contains Bifidobacterium longum 35624. One capsule contains 5 Billon cfu by label claim along with lactose as base carrier. So may not be suitable for those who have the problem of Lactose intolerance. Bifidobacterium longum 35624 is well reported for role in the benefits of digestive health, including IBS symptoms (Sabate and Iglicki., 2022).

  6. Bio-Kult: This product is more beneficial for Men. It contains 14 microencapsulated freeze dried probiotic strains including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophiles and Bifidobacterium longum. It is also reported that Bio-Kult, may help protect against prostate cancer, the most common form of cancer among men in the United States (Fujita et.al., 2022). Each serving of Bio-Kult contains not less than 2 Billion cfu.

  7. Garden of Life: This probiotic supplement is more beneficial for weight loss. It was reported that in some cases weight gain may due to dysbiosis (an imbalance in gut bacteria) and lower bacterial diversity (Alvarez-Arrano, 2021). This product may help to promote weight loss in several ways, including by decreasing gut permeability, reducing inflammation, and increasing bacterial diversity (Alvarez-Arrano, 2021). It contains 14 probiotic strains including Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus rhamnosus with total potency not less than 30 Billion cfu in each capsules.

  8. Now Probiotic: This probiotic supplement is processed in an allergen-free facility, so it’s suitable for those with allergies. It contains 10 probiotic strains including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. These strains have been reported to support the immunity as well as maintain immune health. (Zhang et.al., 2018). Each capsule contains not less than 25 Billion cfu.

  9. Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Pro: It is a synbiotic supplements which contains the benefits of both Probiotic and prebiotic. It contains the potential strains of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium which have been shown to help relieve IBS-related symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea, though more research is still needed (Asha et al., 2020). It also contains partially hydrolyzed guar gum as a prebiotic that feeds the probiotic bacteria in the gut.

  10. Thorne Flora Sport 20B: This supplement is helpful to reduce the stress and support the digestive and immune systems. It is popular among athletes. It contains 3 potential probiotic strains including Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis with total potency not less than 20 Billion cfu. Both these two strains have been shown to support immune health and could be beneficial for athletes and other individuals. (Zhang et.al., 2018).

  11. Florastor: It contains 250mg of Saccharomyces boualrdii. The strain has been shown to effective in managing symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and also help in case of diarrhea, especially antibiotic-associated or acute diarrhea (Mourey et al., 2020 and Pais et al.,2020). The base ingredients of this product is lactose, hence not suitable for those who has the problem of lactose intolerance.

Criteria to choose the best probiotic supplements:

Although it is difficult to choose the best probiotic supplements as the benefits of probiotic products are strain specific and it depends on the kind health problem and the presence of particular probiotic strains in the products against which the benefits of probiotic strains are reported (Sniffen et al., 2018). However, there are some criteria through which we can choose the best one among the several probiotic supplements. Following are the criteria we should be adopted for the selection of best probiotic supplements.


  • Probiotic products should have right strains with correct potency as mentioned on the label. At time of selection of probiotic supplement, we should give preference to the brand of those companies that follow ethical, legal, and industry best standards and that provide objective measures of trust, including having supplements thoroughly tested for purity and potency (Sniffen et al., 2018).

  • As probiotic supplements have no or little side effects but only those products are effective which contains minimum no of viable cells (Viktoria et al., 2019). Therefore, at the time of purchase it is necessary to check the minimum viable count on the label along with expiry date.

  • Each probiotic supplements along with probiotic microorganisms, it contains base ingredients like Lactose, Dextrose, Maltodextrine and other prebiotic ingredients. We should check at the time of selection or purchase that if anyone have the problem with such ingredients like lactose intolerance.

  • We should always choose that products which are made from high quality ingredients and free of artificial additives and fillers. We included options to suit a variety of needs and preferences, whether you need a specific probiotic strain or you follow a gluten-free diet.

  • In a particular health condition, we should consider a specific strain of probiotic or consult a medical professional to find one that’s best for us. Experts suggested that strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium benefit most people.

Conclusion:

Today Probiotic and synbiotic supplements became an excellent option to enhance the immunity as well as to reduce the symptoms of certain medical conditions. Different probiotic formulation is available in the market in respect of specific health problems. Due to awareness among the consumers and effectiveness of this products, people always prefer to take such supplements to get health benefits. Therefore, new players coming in this market with new formulations and products which are based on critical research and several clinical trials. In spite of that still lots of research are required to explore the benefits of probiotic strains and also regulatory need to be more strong to ensure the delivery of right product with correct label claim in the market.


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References:

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