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Which probiotic?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/2/2012 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
It seems the most common are the Renew Life products and the VSL#3 in both the OTC and prescription doses.  I had a previous post with questions about the VSL#3 products and I appreciate those responses.

I am just wondering which probiotic to try.  None of them are cheap and all have questions about them.  I read somewhere in another thread about something that made most of the organisms in the VSL products not actually making it to the colon? 

I am just looking for feedback from any of you that would like to share your experiences or recommendations concerning using probiotics.  I am currently having a flare that we are not able to get under control and want to start probiotics asap.  I just can't decide on which one.

Thanks a bunch.

 

Post Edited (Fndcureforuc) : 6/2/2012 1:18:14 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/2/2012 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Keep in mind I don't have the UC diagnosis but rather severe IBS like symptoms. Someone on this forum recommended the Renew Life line, 80 Billion count type to be specific and I've been on it for over 2 years now. For the longest time I would take it at bedtime on a completely empty stomach. I could tell if I skipped a dose, I'd have more gut rumblings and upsets. But here of late it seems as though I needed more than 80 billion so I looked over the list of probiotics in the regular 50 billion count one (not the vaginal support type) and it was the same, just 30 billion less. So I bought that, splitting two doses roughly 12 hours apart. In a 24 hour time period I ingested 100 billion count and that was helping. In the past week, my summer schedule has changed, looking for a new job and my husband likes to go boating on the weekends (I have to fast when on it), I've seemed to need more. Lately, I've taken 2 50 billion pills in the am and at bedtime. Currently 200 billion per day seems to be what my gut is craving (as I said I'm stressed out over a job search).

I cannot recommend the Renew Life products enough.

I buy mine at my local health food store. I've heard Walgreens carry them but I keep forgetting to ask the pharmacist (I'm guessing they're behind the counter in a fridge).
Posted 6/2/2012 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
The only probiotic that I have seen medical studies showing it's effectiveness is VSL#3. It is a proprietary blend of probiotics meaning you can't get this mix anywhere else. And you can also look at the quantity of probiotics in each VSL#3 dose and compare it to all the other probiotics. VSL#3 has billions and billions more probiotics than any other I've seen. In this case size matters, the # of probiotics per dose. I did the math to compare cheaper probiotics and when you figure out how many probiotics you get per dollar spent VSL#3 is actually cheaper.

If I could duplicate VSL#3 any other way I would, but I can't. So I order it delivered to me for $68/30 packets, no additional shipping charge. Lucky are the people whose insurance covers the DS version which is double the cost and double the amount of probiotics per dose.

It's great that people can use other lower quantity/quality probiotics and get results. I have not been able to do that yet. My motto is if it's working don't change it.
Posted 6/2/2012 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Trial and error....just pick one, try it...etc.

I don't use vsl#3 because I won't use powder/mix stuff on a daily basis.

Yes, probiotics are super expensive....but I must say I have no negs with the ones I take at this point.

q
Posted 6/2/2012 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
I'm using Mutaflor because it was suggested by a practitioner I'm consulting with. He told me that probiotics could be hit and miss which is in line with quincy's comment.

I'm newly diagnosed with UC, (4 months ago) so I can't say for sure if the Mutaflor is making a difference or if it is the medication I'm on. My symptoms (blood, mucous, D and urgency) started improving with the medication but when I added the Mutaflor, the symptoms seemed to get better yet. I haven't had any blood for at least two weeks, I've had only one soft BM for two days in a row)

I'm going to stick with the Mutaflor as long as I can afford it but I've also come to understand that adding fermented foods is a fairly inexpensive way to get probiotics into us. Supposedly you get a lot more probiotic bacteria through foods than you can in a supplement.

Also on the topic of probiotics, are there opinions about the best time to take them?
Posted 6/2/2012 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
Speaking from a lot of experiance...refidgerated ones are usually the best and some even offer guaranteed colon release (Primadophilus Reuteri made by natures way does and it's in the fridge section of the stores).
Posted 6/2/2012 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
I use two - Primadophilus reuteri in the morning and Align in the evening. I was surprised at how much the Align helped my urgency and gas.
Posted 6/2/2012 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
i have used both vsl 3 and renew life. i honestly don't notice a difference in symptoms when taking either one, but i feel like it's beneficial. i stopped using the vsl 3 because it has so many additives and fillers. renew life is totally pure and just has probiotics in it.
Posted 6/2/2012 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
I use Benebiotics and have been very happy with the results.
There is a Benebiotics website and it's sold on Amazon.com.

Not as pricey as VSL#3 and does not have to be refrigerated.
It gets good reviews because the pills are enteric coated and it is one of the few that contain S Boulardii.

Check out the website....there is a 60-day money back guarantee.
Posted 6/3/2012 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
I have been using Primal defense from Garden of Life. Don't go to Whole Foods, check out Vitacost.com and get a good price. My accupuncturist says to take one 1-2 hours after dinner so it can be in your gut all night. It's freeze dried so no need to refidgerate.
Posted 6/4/2012 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Mutaflor is the only probiotic that actually put me in remission without any drugs or other supplements and I tried many different probiotics, including VSL3 and S. Boulardii. Do your own research.
In my opinion it is important for the probiotic to actually survive the stomach acid and make it to the colon, if not the only thing you will get from taking it is improved digestion and not much else.
Posted 6/4/2012 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
lookforcure - Where can Mutaflor be bought at the lowest cost? Amazon has it at $100/mo. Cheaper anywhere else?
Posted 6/4/2012 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
For anyone with experience, where would you rank SCD yogurt in this? Pretty cheap - some milk and a pack of yogurt starter (<$5).

Does anyone have a comparison of how well yogurt works when compared to something like VSL3?
Posted 6/4/2012 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Eph,
if you live in the US, as far as I know, they will not send Mutaflor to you because of FDA. The only way to get it is from Canada through a health food store there. Mutaflor was sold in the US untill about 2 years ago. FDA is changing the classification of the product as a“biologic” instead of it’s former status as a “medical food”. This actually shows how effective this probiotic is and how different it is comparing to all the rest probiotics on the market.
If you can not get it, my advise to you is to get Prescript Assist soil based probiotic. Read the research behind it. It does not need to be refrigerated and it does survive the stomach acid too, even without the special coating.
http://www.perfectsupplements.com/v/ClinicalExp.pdf
http://www.perfectsupplements.com/v/Diarrhea.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16117982
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