Less often, products will report the milligram input dose instead of CFU.
These doses are found on the product labels (e.g., in the Supplement Facts panel).
Most targeted probiotic supplements will deliver strains at1 to 10 billion CFU per serving.
The exact dosing can be tricky to pinpoint, given that there is no overarching recommendation.
“We know that probiotics and certain species of probiotics are important.”
Their exacting dosing is a tad more cryptic.
That’s not helpful to consumers."
“I call that the sledgehammer approach,” renowned integrative physicianRobert Rountree, M.D.,previously told mbg.
“More doesn’t necessarily equal better.
They have to be targeted.
Every bacterium does different things.”
As for what strains to look for, Morse says it really depends on why you’re taking probiotics.
“Overall, the most common and studied probiotics areLactobacillus and Bifidobacterium,” she says.
These are overarching genus-level (genera) probiotics that she explains “help support digestion and immunity.
*
For more detailed info on thedifferent strains and what they do, see this guide.
Should you take probiotics more than once a day?
Experts stress the importance ofreading the labelbefore taking probiotics more than once a day.
you’re free to also split up your dosage based on the formit comes in.
Still, she adds, “side effects from probiotics are very rare.”
They’re usually self-limited GI issues like gas, according toNIH2.
(you’ve got the option to read side effectshere.)
For specific recommendations, check out one of ourprobiotic roundups.