The best probiotic supplements 2025 – tried and tested

The efficiency of probiotics is measured in colony-forming items (CFU). Discover out extra about probiotics and what they do.

Finest probiotic dietary supplements at a look

Finest all-round probiotic: Vitabright Superior Bio-Cultures, £18.99Runner-up probiotic: ProVen Probiotics ShapeLine, £23.62Best probiotics for efficiency: Epetome, £54.99Best probiotics for comfort: ProVen Probiotics 25B, £14.95Best liquid probiotics: Symprove Every day, from £39.99Best probiotics for worth for cash: Vitl Every day Biotic, £14.99Runner-up probiotic for comfort: JS Well being Probiotic, £21.99Best probiotic for gastric upset: The Intestine Co Intestine Care, £44Best chewable probiotic: Holland & Barrett Stay Pleasant Micro organism, £7.99

Bounce to:

Finest probiotics to purchase in 2025

Vitabright Superior Bio-Cultures

Accessible from Amazon (£18.99), Vitabright (£18.99)

Finest all-round probiotic

Worth per day: 63p

Star ranking: 5/5

Providing a 100 per cent money-back assure, this product ticked most of our containers, with 17 completely different species, 11 of that are at quantities above 1bn CFU (there are 45bn CFU in whole). Nevertheless, there aren’t any particulars of the precise strains of micro organism used within the product. An enteric-coated capsule affords safety in opposition to abdomen acid, and inulin acts as a meals supply to help the gut-friendly micro organism. Vegan and gluten-free.

Accessible from:

ProVen Probiotics ShapeLine

Accessible from Amazon (£22.95), Professional-Ven Biotics (£31.99), BodyKind (£31.99)

Runner-up probiotic

Worth per day: £1.05

Star ranking: 4.5/5

With 50bn CFU of ‘extensively researched’ microbes, this has one of many highest contents of the merchandise we examined. Nevertheless, though we’re given the main points of 5 completely different strains, there’s no element of proportions.

Corn starch acts as a prebiotic, and an enteric coating protects in opposition to abdomen acid, that means there’s an excellent probability the micro organism will survive and set up themselves within the intestine.

The capsules additionally embrace nutritional vitamins D3 and C, plus zinc. The packaging features a declare they’re confirmed to help a ‘shapelier you’, however there’s no additional rationalization of how or what meaning.

Vegetarian (not vegan), dairy- and gluten-free.

Accessible from:

Epetome

Accessible from Epetome (£54.99)

Finest probiotic for efficiency

Worth per day: £1.83

Star ranking: 4.5/5

There are 11 completely different stay cultures in these capsules, the bulk at a stage between 1.2 and 12.88bn CFU; three extra are just under this (at 0.88bn every). Offering a complete of 50bn CFU, this product affords one of many highest potencies of the merchandise we examined.

The space-age wanting capsule is formatted with a ‘duo cap’ designed for focused supply inside the intestine, and claiming to be 30 occasions simpler than different supply mechanisms. It incorporates FOS fibre as a prebiotic, plus vitamin D, zinc and biotin.

Accessible from:

ProVen Probiotics 25B

Accessible from Amazon (£14.95), ProVen Biotics (£18.25)

Finest probiotic for comfort

Worth per day: £1.20

Star ranking: 4/5

There are just a few added extras on this product, in addition to 4 standard bacterial strains. Vitamins equivalent to nutritional vitamins C and D3, plus calcium, selenium and zinc are included to assist help immunity. The full mixed CFU of the 4 strains is 25bn, however there isn’t any breakdown so we are able to’t ensure all are supplied in enough quantities.

The capsules include FOS as a prebiotic and have an enteric-coating. For ease of use the capsule could be opened and the contents sprinkled on meals (however you’ll lose the advantages of the enteric coating), the product doesn’t require refrigeration.

Vegetarian (not vegan), dairy- and gluten-free.

Accessible from:

Symprove Every day

Accessible from Symprove (from £39.99)

Finest liquid probiotic

Worth per day: £2.86

Star ranking: 3.5/5

Comprises 4 species of micro organism at a complete of 10bn CFU, nevertheless, there isn’t any element concerning the quantity of every species for us to make certain they’re all current at efficient ranges.

It is a water-based answer, which helps shield the micro organism throughout abdomen transit, germinated barley is included to hurry up fermentation and to offer a gasoline supply for the microbes, the gluten from the grain is eliminated throughout manufacturing, making the product gluten-free.

Our testers discovered the measuring cup fiddly to make use of, and weren’t overly keen on the marginally vinegary style (we sampled mango and keenness fruit flavour). Because it must be saved within the fridge, taken on an empty abdomen, and used inside 10 days of opening, it’s not essentially the most handy of merchandise, however it’s vegan.

Costs differ relying on subscription.

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Vitl Every day Biotic

Accessible from Amazon (£14.99), Vitl (£14.99)

Finest probiotic for worth for cash

Worth per day: 50p

Star ranking: 3.5/5

One other good vary of micro organism, with 9 completely different species, together with the useful yeast Saccharomyces Boulardii. Though there are 14.3bn CFU mixed, two-thirds of the species are beneath ranges of 1-10bn CFU individually.

The vegan capsules are enteric-coated to guard in opposition to abdomen acid and embrace chicory root extract (an FOS) as a prebiotic gasoline supply.

Accessible from:

JS Well being Probiotic

Accessible from JS Well being Nutritional vitamins (£21.99), Amazon (£36.99)

Runner up probiotic for comfort

Worth per day: 73p

Star ranking: 3.5/5

There’s a wide selection and power of micro organism right here, with seven completely different strains, all at or above 1bn+ CFU (35bn CFU whole).

This product is vegan and is shelf-stable, though it will also be refrigerated; our testers discovered it handy and straightforward to take.

Accessible from:

The Intestine Co Intestine Care

Accessible from The Intestine Co (£44)

Finest probiotic for gastric upset

Worth per day: £1.47

Star ranking: 3.5/5

The corporate claims that ‘precisely’ the correct dosage of ‘prebiotic fibres, yeasts and stay probiotics’ are included, with strain-specific, peer-reviewed scientific research to help them. The formulation consists of the yeast, Saccharomyces Boulardii, which is among the most clinically researched probiotics. Nevertheless, dosage data on the packaging isn’t clear, with particular person CFUs of the elements not supplied – only a whole of 6.1bn CFU, which is on the decrease finish of the merchandise we examined.

The corporate claims the pill formation helps shield the elements and help absorption.

Vegan, free from preservatives, gluten and different widespread allergens.

Accessible from:

Holland & Barrett Stay Pleasant Micro organism

Accessible from Holland & Barrett (£7.99)

Finest chewable probiotic

Worth per day: 13p

Star ranking: 3.5/5

These chewable tablets are useful for individuals who don’t like swallowing capsules, though it’s a disgrace that there’s no data on whether or not they’re appropriate for youngsters. They’ve a pleasing strawberry flavour (our testers in contrast it to strawberry milkshake) and are sugar-free, made with sweetener and flavourings.

Two kinds of micro organism are included, however the explicit pressure of 1 isn’t supplied, they usually solely add as much as a considerably disappointing 1bn CFU in whole. Contains FOS as a prebiotic.

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How to decide on a probiotic

When selecting a complement test the label for the next data:

An inventory of the species of micro organism included within the product. Are these applicable on your wants (e.g. have they been assessed in scientific trials)? A great beginning base is the inclusion of households equivalent to Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.The variety of colony-forming items (CFU) equipped by the product. The upper the quantity, the extra energetic microbes per dose.Both the manufacture date or an expiration date. It is a helpful information to find out the efficiency of the product, as a result of the variety of stay micro organism will cut back over the lifetime of the product.Has the product been examined by a 3rd celebration to substantiate the CFU and efficiency?Does the product include a gasoline supply (often known as a prebiotic) to help the microbes? Examine the elements label for accepted prebiotics which embrace inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). You might even see these mixture merchandise (pro- and prebiotics) known as ‘synbiotics’.Has the product been designed to advertise the protected supply of the microbes to the small gut and colon (the place they’re wanted)? This can be due to an enteric coating on a capsule or the way in which a liquid product is taken, e.g. on an empty abdomen.

You probably have a selected dietary want, test the elements rigorously, for instance, not all merchandise might be appropriate for vegans as a result of they might include traces of dairy.

Which probiotic pressure is finest?

Have a look at the elements label to test the main points – you’re more likely to see the micro organism and/or yeast described as Bifidobacterium longum W11.

How we learn that is as follows:

Bifidobacterium is the ‘genus’ or household namelongum is the species, or kind inside that household groupW11 is the precise pressure.

The most typical and efficient probiotics which are included in a complement are these of the Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus households in addition to Bacillus. Exterior of those 4, you will want to do your personal analysis.

If you wish to confirm whether or not the actual probiotic may also help with a selected well being want, test the related scientific research after which make sure that the product you might be contemplating incorporates the identical pressure, on the similar efficiency that was evaluated within the trial.

How a lot ought to I take?

There aren’t any official beneficial each day doses or higher limits for probiotics, though most consultants recommend a product ought to provide 1-10 billion CFU per dose; with multi-strain merchandise doubtlessly providing doses of 1-10 billion CFU for every pressure. Taking excessive doses isn’t suggested as a result of threat of undesirable uncomfortable side effects equivalent to bloating, wind and unfastened bowels or constipation.

For most individuals, probiotic supplementation is usually protected; nevertheless, these with sure intestine issues, compromised immune methods (together with these on immune-suppressant remedy), extreme sickness or allergic reactions, in addition to pregnant and breast-feeding girls ought to search recommendation from their GP previous to supplementing. Moreover, if you’re taking sure drugs together with antibiotics or anti-fungals, focus on the usage of a probiotic complement along with your GP.

What format of probiotic is finest?

This depends upon various components:

The micro organism you chooseHow you want to retailer the productWhether the formulation is designed to make sure the probiotics attain the a part of the digestive system the place they’re wanted.

Liquid and dairy-based merchandise will doubtless want refrigerating, and are usually the least shelf-stable. Probiotics in strong kind, equivalent to capsules and powders, are extra steady and could be saved for an extended time period typically below cool, dry situations, equivalent to in a cabinet.

Probiotics which are encapsulated in a tough capsule shell or ‘enteric’ coated stand a greater probability of reaching the colon, whereas dairy-based meals and drinks that have a tendency to remain within the abdomen longer could end in extra of the micro organism being misplaced. Research recommend that suppositories, which keep away from the abdomen altogether, could ship a higher proportion of viable probiotic, however these aren’t as generally accessible over-the-counter.

How ought to I take a probiotic complement?

Comply with the directions on the label, as how it is best to take the product will rely upon the elements. Usually the advice is to tackle an empty abdomen, to keep away from it being held up within the digestive system. Most research help taking a few times a day for about 12 weeks.

What we regarded for in probiotic dietary supplements

All dietary supplements have been examined inside the similar time interval, with observations recorded based mostly on the testing standards. We included samples from varied producers, providing numerous codecs equivalent to capsules, gummies and liquids, with a spread of worth factors to go well with completely different budgets. The important thing areas we assessed have been:

Style and flavour: are they nice to devour?Energetic elements: what are the completely different species of probiotic and are particulars of the pressure included? What’s the efficiency (CFU) of the person micro organism? Are their particulars concerning the expiry date?Formulation: Does the product embrace a prebiotic? And has it been formulated to ship the probiotics to the a part of the intestine the place they’re wanted?Dietary necessities: does the product meet any particular dietary wants – is it vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free?Worth for cash: how does it evaluate to different merchandise on a cost-per-day foundation?Readability of directions: are storage particulars and take the product clearly described?

We additionally reviewed Nutrigums (£9.99).

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At all times preserve dietary supplements out of the attain of youngsters. Except in any other case acknowledged we examined merchandise accessible within the UK market and appropriate for adults.

Examine the product label and elements earlier than buy to make sure it’s applicable on your particular person circumstance