This is part of our Ultimate Guide to Private Label Probiotics, a complete overview of the benefits of probiotic supplementation for consumers, some of the different strains and their specific uses, the process of responsibly manufacturing a probiotic product, and what to look for when choosing a probiotic manufacturer.
Executive Summary
A probiotic is only as credible as the live organisms a finished product still carries when it is consumed, which makes CFU labeling and the testing behind it a brand decision rather than a formality. The category’s appeal is broad, but the concentration and reliability of the bacteria in foods are largely unknown, so a high-quality supplement is the dependable route for a brand. Heat, moisture, light, and pressure can erode live counts well below the number promised at manufacture, so a count stated through expiration signals that the finished product was tested after processing. Brands evaluating a probiotic contract manufacturer should treat that post-process viability testing as a selection criterion.
Key Takeaways
- A label’s CFU count is a testing question as much as a formulation one, because heat, moisture, light, and pressure can leave a finished product with far fewer live organisms than the number promised at manufacture.
- A count stated through expiration is the claim worth building a label around, since it points to testing after processing, a question to put to any dietary supplement manufacturer before a probiotic SKU is approved.
- Positioning a supplement against food sources rests on reliability, since the concentration of beneficial bacteria in foods is largely unknown and a high-quality probiotic supplement lets a brand state what each serving contains.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. These microorganisms consist mainly of bacteria, but can also include yeasts. They are naturally present in fermented foods and are sometimes added to food products. They are also available as dietary supplements. As the concentration and reliability of the bacteria found in foods are largely unknown, a high-quality probiotic supplement is the best way to ensure consumers get enough of the effective and beneficial bacteria. For brands developing private label probiotics, the questions that matter are what the research supports and how a CFU claim is built and verified.
Health Benefits of Probiotics
Probiotics are associated with a range of potential health benefits. When the microbial balance of the gut is well supported, probiotics may help support digestive comfort and regularity, including occasional gas and bloating.† Studies suggest that probiotics can help support normal bowel function and nourish the microflora in the gut.† A healthy bowel is the key to normal digestive function. Additionally, an increasing number of scientific studies have explored a link between gut health and mood. A nourished gut flora can also be a cornerstone to competitively excluding less desirable bacteria.†
There are many other benefits of probiotics, as well. In addition to supporting digestive health and a healthy metabolism, some of the other most sought-after benefits include the following:†
- Inflammation: Certain probiotics may help support a healthy inflammatory response.†
- Mood support: The probiotic strains Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum have been studied for their role in supporting a balanced mood and a healthy response to everyday stress.†
- Blood cholesterol: Several probiotics have been shown to support normal, healthy cholesterol levels.†
- Blood pressure: Some probiotics have been studied for their role in supporting healthy blood pressure levels.†
- Skin health: There is some evidence that probiotics can support healthy skin.†
- Energy: Belly bacteria help create B vitamins, which are essential for the production of ATP (science-talk for energy).†
- Weight management: In 2014, a paper reported that L. rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724 supplementation was associated with weight management in women, with a more marked effect than in men.†
- Stress support: Scientists in Cork have studied a live bacteria probiotic for its potential to support a healthy response to stress and to support mental function and memory in humans.† The researchers, based at the APC Microbiome Institute at University College Cork, say the probiotic has potential use as a way to support a calm response to mild everyday stress.†
- For children: According to the 2012 National Health Interview Survey, probiotics are the 3rd most popular natural product used by children.
- Immune function: Several probiotic strains have been shown clinically to support immune function and help the body maintain its natural defenses.† Research continues to explore probiotics’ role in supporting immune function.†
When people take antibiotics, especially for long periods of time, those antibiotics kill off many of the natural, good bacteria that live within the gut. This can negatively disrupt the optimal balance of bacteria, allowing too many of the harmful bacteria to thrive and causing unpleasant gastrointestinal issues.
Malnutrition, an unbalanced diet, and too many processed foods can also contribute to disrupting the natural balance within the gut. So can some very common but undesirable lifestyle factors such as stress, lack of sleep and surgical procedures.
When the balance of these microorganisms is disrupted, and harmful bacteria outnumber the good bacteria, probiotics can help to replenish the good bacteria and support a healthy balance in the gut.† Without the addition of these probiotics, the balance can tip further toward less desirable bacteria.
What Are “CFUs”?
CFU stands for Colony-Forming Units, which simply refers to the number of live and active microorganisms that can be found in each serving of a probiotic product. When probiotics are consumed, they begin to colonize the digestive tract with good bacteria, which is why they are referred to as colony-forming units.
The amount of CFUs in a probiotic product can play a big part in how effective that probiotic is. Additionally, the number of CFUs promised on the label may not be the amount actually being delivered when the probiotic is consumed. This can occur for many reasons, but one of the main causes is time.
There are different ways to present CFUs on a probiotic product label. Some labels will state the amount of CFUs that were present “at the time of manufacture”. Probiotics are only beneficial to your health when they are living, working, “Colony-Forming Units”. Since probiotics are relatively delicate living microorganisms, inhospitable environments such as too much heat, moisture, light or pressure can kill them fairly easily. So, while there may have been 50 billion CFUs at the beginning of the formulation’s processing, by the time they are being ingested there may only be 1 billion left… Or maybe a few hundred.
The best-made probiotic supplements will state the CFU count “through expiration”. If they were made by a quality manufacturer, this will indicate that the finished product was tested after it has gone through the manufacturing process, and should ensure that the finished product has retained enough live microorganisms that it can still carry the CFU count it is claiming on the label until it reaches that expiration date.
Stress, lack of sleep, surgical procedures, an unbalanced diet, an excess of processed foods, and the consumption of antibiotics can all kill off many of the natural, good bacteria that live within our gut. When the balance of these microorganisms is disrupted, and harmful bacteria outnumber the good bacteria, probiotics can help to replenish the good bacteria and support a healthy balance in the gut.† The amount of CFUs in a probiotic product, and identifying how these counts are identified on the product label, can play a big part in how effective that probiotic is.
Frequently Asked Questions About Probiotics
Next: ➤ Learn More About the Different Strains of Probiotics Available for Private Label Supplements.
†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.
