Guide
How much probiotics should you take a day?
There is no recommended daily amount for probiotics; the adequate amount depends on the strain. Our label directs one capsule, 20 billion CFU at the time of manufacture.
No official daily amount exists for probiotics, and a higher count is not better by itself. One trial of a single named strain used 10 billion CFU a day. Electric Tiger Probiotic 20 Billion CFU directs one capsule daily: 20 billion CFU at the time of manufacture, from 13 listed organisms.
There is no official daily amount
Vitamins and minerals have recommended intakes. Probiotics do not, and our Supplement Facts panel prints "Daily Value not established" for the same reason. The definition of a probiotic requires an "adequate amount," without saying what that is, because the adequate amount differs by strain and purpose. A review of 249 trials found that choosing a product means matching strain, dose and formulation to the purpose, and that many products lack trials of their own.
What the trials used
One example of what a strain-level trial looks like: 64 healthy young adults took 10 billion CFU a day of one named strain (L. paracasei subsp. paracasei L. casei W8) for 4 weeks. The strain's group rose in stool, and was still raised two weeks after stopping, but the overall make-up of the gut bacteria did not change. The trial named the strain and stated the count, which is exactly the information our label does not print.
On whether more does more, a review of dose-response studies in people found it depends on the outcome: for some, the effect rose with dose, and for most others no clear relationship was found. The review's author said the findings do not allow extrapolation. So 10 billion, 20 billion or 50 billion CFU are not steps on a quality ladder; each is a number to be checked against the trial of the strain in the bottle.
What our label says
One capsule daily with 6–8 oz of water, or as directed by a healthcare professional. One capsule is 20 billion CFU at the time of manufacture, from 13 listed organisms (L. acidophilus, L. salivarius, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, B. lactis, B. bifidum, L. fermentum, L. reuteri, B. longum, L. gasseri, B. animalis, L. paracasei and B. breve), in one 317 mg row. The panel prints no strain codes and no count for any single organism, so we do not match it to any trial's dose, and we do not say it is the amount any study used. A bottle holds 30 capsules and is as low as $14.39 on subscription, about $0.48 a serving.
Milligrams are not CFU
The 317 mg on our label is the weight of the whole culture row per capsule. It is not 317 mg of live organisms, and it is not a CFU figure; the CFU count is the separate "20 billion at the time of manufacture" line. When someone searches "probiotics 250 mg," they are comparing a weight with no information about how many live cells it holds.
Questions people ask
How much probiotics should I take per day, and how often?
Follow the label of the product you buy. Ours directs one capsule daily. No trial we cite tested three times a day or twice a day for our product, and we do not suggest exceeding the label.
Can I take 2 probiotics a day, or can you take too much?
The label says do not exceed the recommended dose. A review of 622 studies found no statistically significant increase in overall or serious adverse events with short-term probiotic use in randomized trials, while saying that long-term effects are largely unknown and rare events are hard to assess. That is not a safe upper limit. If you want to take more than the label says, ask a doctor or pharmacist. See probiotics side effects.
What is a low-dose probiotic?
There is no agreed cut-off. "Low" or "high" only means something relative to the trial of a given strain.
How much probiotics is in yogurt?
It varies by product and is not something this guide can give. ISAPP's consensus statement on fermented foods says fermented foods are a different category from probiotics, so a yogurt's live cultures are not automatically counted as a probiotic dose.
Is there a probiotic that doctors or gastroenterologists recommend?
No dose or product is recommended for probiotics in general; recommendations from clinicians are about named strains for specific purposes. If a doctor recommends one, ask for the strain name and the dose, then compare them with the label. How to read one is in how to choose a good probiotic.
Which probiotic is recommended for dogs by vets?
This guide covers supplements for adults. Pet probiotics are not covered here.
Related reading: what are probiotics and the best time to take probiotics.
Sources
- The effect of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei L. casei W8® on blood levels of triacylglycerol is independent of colonisation In 64 healthy young adults, 10 billion CFU a day of one named strain for 4 weeks raised that strain's group in stool but did not change overall gut composition.
- A review of dose-responses of probiotics in human studies A review found that whether a higher probiotic dose does more depends on the outcome, and for most outcomes studied there was no clear relationship.
- Choosing an appropriate probiotic product for your patient: An evidence-based practical guide A review of 249 trials found probiotic effects depend on the exact strain and the purpose, and many products have no trial of their own.
- Safety of probiotics used to reduce risk and prevent or treat disease Short-term trials found no more side effects with probiotics than with control, but safety reporting was poor and long-term effects are largely unknown.
- Expert consensus document. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic A 2014 international expert consensus statement defined 'probiotic' as a specific, identified live microorganism given in a known, adequate amount that has been shown to produce a health benefit — not a general term for any product containing live bacteria.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
