{"product_id":"probiotic-40-billion-with-prebiotics","title":"Probiotic 40 Billion with Prebiotics","description":"\u003c!-- MSB product body: Probiotic 40 Billion with Prebiotics (capsules skin). Scoped under .msb. 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.lead{color:rgba(233,229,211,.78);max-width:44rem;font-size:1.08rem;margin-bottom:2rem}\n.msb .stats{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:.7rem}\n.msb .st{flex:1 1 9.5rem;min-width:0;background:rgba(233,229,211,.09);\n  border:1px solid rgba(233,229,211,.16);border-radius:14px;padding:1.05rem 1.15rem}\n.msb .st b{display:block;color:var(--lime);font-size:1.85rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-.03em;line-height:1}\n.msb .st span{display:block;font-size:.67rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;\n  color:rgba(233,229,211,.6);margin-top:.5rem}\n@media(max-width:44rem){.msb .band.open{padding:2.6rem 0 2.8rem}\n.msb .band.open h2{font-size:2rem}.msb .st b{font-size:1.5rem}}\n\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"msb\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"band open\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"in\"\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"eyebrow\"\u003eProbiotic 40 Billion · 60 vegan capsules\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003ch2\u003eForty billion is the number that tells you the least.\u003c\/h2\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"lead\"\u003eFour real species and a shelf-stable coating — sold with the two things we'd change about this label said out loud, not buried in a footnote.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"stats\"\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"st\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e40 B\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCFU per capsule\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"st\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e4\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecies\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"st\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e24 mg\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrebiotic — ~50× under\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"st\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e0\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStrain codes printed\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"st\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eVegan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHypromellose cap\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"band white\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"in\"\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"split\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"c\"\u003e\n      \u003cp class=\"eyebrow\"\u003eEverything on the label\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003ch2\u003eWhat's actually in it.\u003c\/h2\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eForty billion CFU from four species of bacteria, plus a marine polysaccharide coating and a small amount of prebiotic fibre. That's the whole formula. Below is what each piece is, what the number means, and the one place this label falls short of what we'd like to see.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n      \u003cdiv class=\"ing\"\u003e\n        \u003cspan class=\"tag\"\u003eThe four species\u003c\/span\u003e\n        \u003cdl\u003e\n          \u003cdt\u003eLactobacillus acidophilus\u003c\/dt\u003e\n          \u003cdd\u003eThe most studied name in the category and the one most people have heard of. Naturally present in the human gut and in fermented dairy.\u003c\/dd\u003e\n          \u003cdt\u003eBifidobacterium lactis\u003c\/dt\u003e\n          \u003cdd\u003eA bifidobacterium rather than a lactobacillus — a different genus that colonises the large intestine. Widely used in commercial products.\u003c\/dd\u003e\n          \u003cdt\u003eLactobacillus plantarum\u003c\/dt\u003e\n          \u003cdd\u003eFound in fermented vegetables — sauerkraut, kimchi, brined olives. Notably tolerant of stomach acid and bile.\u003c\/dd\u003e\n          \u003cdt\u003eLactobacillus paracasei\u003c\/dt\u003e\n          \u003cdd\u003eClose relative of \u003cem\u003eL. casei\u003c\/em\u003e, common in dairy fermentation and in commercial probiotic blends.\u003c\/dd\u003e\n        \u003c\/dl\u003e\n      \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top:1.2rem\"\u003eThe other two ingredients are a \u003cstrong\u003emarine polysaccharide complex\u003c\/strong\u003e — a seaweed-derived coating intended to help the bacteria survive stomach acid, sold under the name MAKTREK® — and \u003cstrong\u003efructooligosaccharide (FOS)\u003c\/strong\u003e, a prebiotic fibre. The capsule is hypromellose, so it's vegan. Rice maltodextrin and L-leucine are carriers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n      \u003cp class=\"fine\" style=\"margin-top:1rem\"\u003eMade in the USA in an FDA-registered facility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n    \u003cdiv class=\"c\"\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"facts\"\u003e\n        \u003cdiv class=\"t\"\u003eSupplement Facts\u003c\/div\u003e\n        \u003cdiv class=\"r\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eServing Size\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e1 Capsule\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n        \u003cdiv class=\"r thick\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eCapsules Per Container\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e60\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n        \u003cdiv class=\"r\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eProprietary Blend of Probiotic Bacteria\u003csmall\u003eMAKTREK® Bi-Pass Technology, L. acidophilus, B. lactis, L. plantarum, L. paracasei\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e800 mg\u003cbr\u003e40 Billion CFU\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n        \u003cdiv class=\"r\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eComplex Marine Polysaccharide\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e60 mg\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n        \u003cdiv class=\"r thick\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eFructooligosaccharide (FOS)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e24 mg\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n        \u003cp class=\"fn\"\u003eDaily Value not established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n        \u003cp class=\"oth\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOther Ingredients:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hypromellose (vegetable capsule), Rice Maltodextrin, L-Leucine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003c\/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"why\" style=\"margin-top:1.3rem\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eWhy the strain codes matter\u003c\/b\u003eProbiotic research is strain-specific, not species-specific. This label prints species only — so you can't look up the trials.\u003c\/div\u003e\n      \u003cdiv class=\"why\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eWhy 24 mg of prebiotic is not a prebiotic dose\u003c\/b\u003eTrials use grams. This is milligrams. The number below explains the gap.\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\n\u003csection class=\"band cream\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"in\"\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"eyebrow\"\u003eThe evidence\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003ch2\u003eWhat the research actually shows.\u003c\/h2\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"lead\" style=\"margin-bottom:1.7rem\"\u003eWe grade our own products. Where the evidence is strong we say so. Where it's early or thin, we say that too — including when it costs us the sale. This one has more caveats than most.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"cards\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"card\"\u003e\n      \u003cspan class=\"grade g-s\"\u003eStrong evidence\u003c\/span\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003eProbiotics are real, and generally safe\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eThese are living organisms with a long record of human use, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that in healthy people they're generally well tolerated, with mild gas or bloating the usual complaint. The category isn't in doubt. What's in doubt is how much any \u003cem\u003eparticular\u003c\/em\u003e product does.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"card early\"\u003e\n      \u003cspan class=\"grade g-e\"\u003ePromising, still early\u003c\/span\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003eBenefits are strain-specific — and uneven\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eThis is the single most important thing to understand about probiotics. Evidence attaches to a specific strain, not to a species. \u003cem\u003eL. acidophilus\u003c\/em\u003e is not one organism with one body of research; it's dozens of strains with wildly different data. Even where a named strain has been trialled, results are mixed — the largest trial of one commonly used \u003cem\u003eB. lactis\u003c\/em\u003e strain found no benefit on its primary outcome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"card early\"\u003e\n      \u003cspan class=\"grade g-e\"\u003ePromising, still early\u003c\/span\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003eThe CFU count is not the quality signal\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eForty billion sounds impressive next to a competitor's ten billion, and the industry knows it. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements puts it plainly: \u003cstrong\u003eproducts with higher CFU counts are not necessarily more effective.\u003c\/strong\u003e The right dose is whatever the trial for that strain used. Without strain codes on the label, nobody — including us — can check.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"card thin\"\u003e\n      \u003cspan class=\"grade g-t\"\u003eThin evidence\u003c\/span\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003eThe prebiotic, by the numbers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eFOS is a genuine prebiotic fibre. The problem is the amount. Prebiotic trials generally start around \u003cstrong\u003e2.5 grams a day\u003c\/strong\u003e. This label carries \u003cstrong\u003e24 mg per capsule\u003c\/strong\u003e — and even at the two capsules the label suggests, that's \u003cstrong\u003e48 mg, roughly fifty times under\u003c\/strong\u003e the low end of the studied range. We don't think \"with Prebiotics\" in the product name is earned by that number, and we'd rather tell you than let it slide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"card thin\"\u003e\n      \u003cspan class=\"grade g-t\"\u003eThin evidence\u003c\/span\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003eThe delivery technology\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eMAKTREK® Bi-Pass Technology is the marine-polysaccharide coating, and the idea behind it — protecting bacteria from stomach acid — is sound in principle. We could not find published, peer-reviewed data on it. That doesn't mean it doesn't work. It means we can't show you evidence that it does, and a trademark symbol is not evidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\n\u003csection class=\"band lime\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"in\"\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"quote\"\u003eForty billion is the number on the front of the bottle. It's also the number that tells you the least about whether this will do anything.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"qby\"\u003eOur standard\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\n\u003csection class=\"band white\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"in\"\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"eyebrow\"\u003eHow to take it\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003ch2\u003eOne capsule, twice a day.\u003c\/h2\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"cards\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"card early\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe label's instruction\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eOne capsule during the day and one in the evening. Don't exceed two a day. At that rate the bottle is a 30-day supply.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"card early\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFood or no food\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eThe label doesn't specify. Many people prefer with a meal; some find slightly before a meal easier on the stomach. Neither is wrong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"card early\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKeep it cool\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eThese are shelf-stable, but they're still living organisms. Heat shortens their life. A cupboard is fine; a hot car is not.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"talk\"\u003e\n    \u003cspan class=\"tag\"\u003eStraight talk\u003c\/span\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGive it a fortnight, then be honest with yourself.\u003c\/strong\u003e If a probiotic is going to change how you feel, most people notice inside two to four weeks. If nothing has changed after a month, the sensible conclusion is that this particular blend isn't doing anything for you — not that you need a bigger number on the bottle. Some mild gas or bloating in the first few days is common and usually settles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\n\u003csection class=\"band forest\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"in\"\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"flag\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"m\"\u003e!\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv\u003e\n      \u003cp class=\"eyebrow\"\u003eBefore you buy\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003ch2\u003eWho should skip this one.\u003c\/h2\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnyone who is severely immunocompromised, critically ill, or has a central venous catheter should not take live probiotics without their doctor.\u003c\/strong\u003e There are documented cases of probiotic organisms entering the bloodstream in people whose defences are already down. This is rare, and it is the most important line on the page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eAlso talk to a clinician first if you:\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cul\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAre taking immunosuppressant medication\u003c\/strong\u003e — after a transplant, or for an autoimmune condition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHave short bowel syndrome or a damaged gut barrier\u003c\/strong\u003e — the same bloodstream concern applies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAre on antibiotics\u003c\/strong\u003e — not a reason to avoid probiotics, but timing matters. Separate them by a couple of hours.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAre pregnant, nursing, or under 18\u003c\/strong\u003e — get advice rather than guessing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003c\/ul\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eEveryone else: the usual worst case is a few days of gas or bloating while your gut adjusts. If that doesn't settle within a week, stop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\n\u003csection class=\"band cream\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"in\"\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"eyebrow\"\u003eStraight answers\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003ch2\u003eProbiotic questions, answered.\u003c\/h2\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"cards\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"faq\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"q\"\u003eIs 40 billion better than 10 billion?\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eNot automatically, and the NIH says so in as many words. More CFU costs more to make and reads better on a shelf, but the dose that matters is the one used in the trial for that specific strain. Higher is not a synonym for better.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"faq\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"q\"\u003eWhy does the strain code matter so much?\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eBecause it's the only way to find the research. \"\u003cem\u003eL. acidophilus\u003c\/em\u003e\" is a species containing many different strains with different behaviour and different trial results. A designation like La-14 or NCFM points at actual published work. Species alone points at nothing you can verify.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"faq\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"q\"\u003eSo does this one have strain codes?\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eNot printed on the label — and that's a gap. We think strain designations belong on every probiotic label, and we've said so here rather than hoping you wouldn't ask.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"faq\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"q\"\u003eDoes it need to be refrigerated?\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eNo. It's formulated to be shelf-stable, which is what the coating is for. Store it somewhere cool and dry rather than somewhere warm, and it'll keep to its date.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"faq\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"q\"\u003eShould I take it with antibiotics?\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eMany people do, and it's a common reason to start. Space the doses a few hours apart so the antibiotic isn't killing the probiotic on arrival. If the antibiotic was prescribed for something serious, ask the prescriber rather than us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"faq\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"q\"\u003eIs the \"with Prebiotics\" part meaningful?\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eHonestly, no. At 24 mg per capsule it's roughly fifty times under the amount used in prebiotic research. If prebiotic fibre is what you're after, a few grams of inulin — or simply more beans, onions, oats and bananas — will do more than this will.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\n\u003csection class=\"band white\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"in\"\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"eyebrow\"\u003eOur standard\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003ch2\u003eWhy we stock it.\u003c\/h2\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"kick\"\u003eFour well-known species at a serious CFU count, with a shelf-stable coating — and two things on the label we'd change if it were ours to print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"lead\"\u003eWe stock it because probiotics are a reasonable thing to try, this is a competently made version, and plenty of people want one. We're telling you about the missing strain codes and the token prebiotic because those are the two things a knowledgeable buyer would notice, and we'd rather be the ones who point them out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003chr class=\"r\"\u003e\n  \u003cp class=\"fine\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSources.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ods.od.nih.gov\/factsheets\/Probiotics-HealthProfessional\/\" style=\"text-decoration:underline\"\u003eProbiotics — Health Professional Fact Sheet\u003c\/a\u003e, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. · \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nccih.nih.gov\/health\/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know\" style=\"text-decoration:underline\"\u003eProbiotics: What You Need To Know\u003c\/a\u003e, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. · Gibson G.R. et al., \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/nrgastro.2017.75\" style=\"text-decoration:underline\"\u003eExpert consensus document: The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of prebiotics\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003cem\u003eNat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol\u003c\/em\u003e 2017.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n","brand":"My Supplement Boost","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48607536808177,"sku":"VOX4PROB","price":30.9,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0790\/0856\/3441\/files\/1787157155507-generated-label-image-0.jpg?v=1787157966","url":"https:\/\/mysupplementboost.com\/products\/probiotic-40-billion-with-prebiotics","provider":"My Supplement Boost","version":"1.0","type":"link"}