Best Type of Probiotic for Colon Health

What probiotic has helped people out there? I was told that some probiotics are less effective than others. Is there any particular strains that I should be looking for on the labels?

I've been told to try:
Garden of Life Primal Defense Probiotic
Innate Response Probiotic
Dr. Ohhira's Probiotics
VSL#3


Which ones would have worked for you guys?

As far as I know VSL is the only probiotic specifically designed for UC. It has several documented studies. Having said that, UC is no simple disease. VSL has helped many and made several worse. Same can be said for almost all other probiotics. I think probiotics are extremely important in this disease but it seems to be very individualized requiring trial and error. In most cases you need probiotics with a very high count. 5 billion is like a drop in the bucket so you're probably not going to find the most effective ones in the stores. I think it all boils down to the balance of gut microbia and everyone's balance is different. Part of UC's possible problem is that your immune system may be running amuk, attacking good bacteria in your colon but it could be a different bacteria in everyone. Introducing more of that one bacteria that is being destroyed could actually make you worse since it would rev up the attack even more. If that is actually the case the best bet would be to introduce more of good bacterias that the body is not attacking but who knows what that does to the intricate balance that you had before coming down with UC. Of course there are hundreds of other possibilities.

I use a large array of probiotic brands but I've noticed improvements since starting vsl again. I take 8 capsules a day and it's burning a hole in my bank account.

I use this, home-made yogurt and home made sauerkraut.

handfulofrain, it's better to take many probiotic strains than only one.

I'm using VSL#3DS, it requires a prescription but it also has a patient assist financial aid program that if you qualify they will ship you supplies for 3 months. I take 1 packet every am on an empty stomach and it seems to be working. You can go to the website and find the vsl#3ds, the agency that helps with the financial end is NORD, they will cover VSL.

Good luck

I am trying Nexabiotics (formerly Benebiotics) atm. Have been on them for about 3 days now and haven't noticed much of a difference yet.

Bezzy: VSL is actually not expensive. It is actually cheaper than most probiotics if you divide the cost by how many CFU's are in the dosage. The only reason it is "expensive" is because the capsules give you 225 billion CFU's and the packets give you 450 billion. That's tons more than any other probiotic and actually cheaper than if you were to take the same number of CFU's of the other probiotics. The DS version is sometimes covered by insurance with a prescription.

I take BioGaia or Lactoral, seem to be working well, but will soon switch to vsl3

The links are because?

Are you making these, or are they a suggestion? or are you asking if anyone is using them?

q

I take Primadophilus Reuteri and Align. The Align is the only probiotic I've ever been able to see concrete evidence of effectiveness with. If I miss a few days, my colon will yell at me.