There’s no reason to assume the results are ever misrepresented but it’s important to keep in mind. Many of the studies indicating favorable outcomes for probiotics have been financed by companies that sell products containing those ingredients. Common benefits reported in these studies include ( R)( R): There have been many favorable outcomes reported in clinical trials and studies. In my opinion, the benefits of spore probiotics aren’t yet understood. In that study, probiotics slowed the microbiome from recovering after exposure to antibiotics. I’ve also seen a study that found probiotics actually slow the body’s natural recovery following the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics ( R). I’ve seen benefits reported for mental, cardiovascular, metabolic, and definitely nutritional health. I’ve seen many studies indicating favorable outcomes when giving people probiotics. These are useful in assuring that your products contain the same bacteria that were actually tested in clinical settings. Note: The numbers in parenthesis after the spore names are specific strains. The following are common species found in spore-based probiotics: Spore probiotics are generally of the Bacillus genus and are limited to those having shown benefits in clinical settings. Yes, it’s convenient-but I’ll just pop any non-spore probiotic into an enteric capsule if I want to ensure it’s survivability. I also believe people ( read as: marketing departments) are getting too caught up in it. I believe the increased survivability of spore probiotics is a great thing. For most supplements, the capsules fit snuggly inside and I don’t even have to mess around with spilling powder all over the place! I place many of my supplements in 00-sized enteric caps to make sure they aren’t degraded by stomach acid. Capsugel has a good description of these products on their website. These are empty capsules made from plant-based materials designed to withstand stomach acid. It still had two years left! You won’t find that kind of stability with regular probiotics! Tip: Use Enteric-Coated CapsulesĪny probiotic can make it through stomach acid by using enteric capsules. I positioning it over the trash can when I decided to double-check the expiration date-just in case. While recently cleaning out some expired supplements, I came across a bottle of spore probiotics I’d bought a couple of years back. This isn’t so much a functional benefit as it is a practical one. Other probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium do not.īetter shelf-life/stability: Spore probiotics don’t require refrigeration and have much longer shelf-life ratings. Spore probiotics offer two primary benefits over traditional options ( R):īetter survivability: Spore probiotics are able to make the passage through stomach acids and digestive juices without being destroyed. Here is a list of some common spore-forming bacteria that contain many different species-some of which are harmful and some of which are helpful.īacillus subtilis bacteria at x2000 magnification Regular vs. With great probiotics comes great responsibility. Spore-forming probiotics may offer functional benefits during a course of antibiotics they are also unlikely to be killed off by antibiotics should the become a problem. It’s important to recognize the double-edged nature of these traits. They are more resistant to stomach acid as well as antibiotics. This characteristic trait of spore-forming bacteria allows them the potential to offer many health benefits. They are unique in that they use proteins, minerals, and other available compounds to form protective endo spores that protect them from harsh environments. Spore-forming probiotics are bacteria commonly found in topsoil, such as on farms and/or gardens. These are the bacteria I consider probiotics. It’s generally used to describe bacteria that have provided health benefits under clinical settings. The term “probiotic” doesn’t have any regulated meaning. Make sure to buy products containing ingredients with specifically-noted strains (e.g.Common species are of the Bacillus genus.May help lower cholesterol, lower disease risk, and improve vascular health.Create vitamins and antioxidants in the gut.Spore probiotics have better shelf-lives.

Spore probiotics benefits