Is 60 billion CFU too much? Who a high-CFU daily probiotic is for
Published by Physician's Choice, which makes the products discussed on this site.
Short answer
Not by the number alone. NIH's Office of Dietary Supplements says many probiotic supplements contain 1 to 10 billion CFU per dose, some contain 50 billion or more, and products with higher counts are not necessarily more effective. Physician's Choice 60 Billion Probiotic puts 60 billion CFU across 10 strains in one daily capsule; its strain dossier states that 60 billion is the count at expiration. What matters more than the total is which strains are inside, and the dose each strain was studied at.
"it is SO overwhelming with all the choices and different types out there."
Where 60 billion sits
CFU stands for colony forming units: the number of live microbes in a dose. Here is how the 60 billion figure compares with the ranges NIH describes.
So 60 billion sits above the common range, in the group NIH calls "some products." NIH also says there are no official recommendations that cover probiotic use by healthy people, so there is no official daily amount to measure it against.
"I recently started taking 50 Billion probiotics."
Total CFU versus CFU per strain
NIH notes that the effects of probiotics can be specific to certain strains, so advice about them needs to be strain specific. ISAPP, a scientific association, puts it this way: each product contains specific microorganisms "at a specific dose." A total like 60 billion is a sum across strains. The useful questions are which strains, and how much of each.
Physician's Choice's strain dossier names the daily dose used in studies for four of the 10 strains in 60 Billion Probiotic. All ten codes, and the other checks worth running on a high-CFU label, are in High CFU probiotics: what to check beyond the 60 billion on the label.
Strains with a studied dose
| Code | Species | Daily dose in studies |
|---|---|---|
| Lpc-37 | Lacticaseibacillus paracasei | 17 billion CFU; 2 billion CFU in a second study |
| Ls-33 | Ligilactobacillus salivarius | 20 billion CFU |
| Lp-115 | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum | 1 billion CFU |
| Bl-04 | Bifidobacterium lactis | 2 billion CFU |
Source: Physician's Choice strain dossier. The other six codes are Lc-11, La-14, Bb-06, Bl-05, Bb-18 and Lb-87. The label gives the blend total, 220 mg and 60 billion CFU, not the amount of each strain.
The first days: what NIH says about gas
According to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, probiotics are generally well tolerated by healthy people, though they may cause mild digestive symptoms, such as gas. Probiotics may not be appropriate for everyone, particularly people who are seriously ill or have weakened immune systems. Talk with your healthcare provider before use. The label directions are 1 capsule a day, with or without food. If gas is severe or keeps getting worse, stop and talk to a doctor. Adding a digestive enzyme as well? See Can you take digestive enzymes and probiotics together? Wondering whether morning or night suits the capsule better? See When is the best time to take a probiotic?
Before you start
NIH notes that probiotics might not be safe for everyone. Check with a doctor first if any of these apply:
- you are seriously ill or your immune system is weakened
- you are pregnant or nursing
- you take prescription medication
- you already have gut symptoms that are severe, bloody or getting worse
Once you have started, how long to stay on a daily probiotic and when to stop are covered in How long should you take a probiotic?
Physician's Choice's own guidance on who 60 Billion Probiotic is for is being confirmed with Physician's Choice.
"The CFU number on a bottle is a snapshot"
How the count is kept to expiration
A CFU count can be stated at manufacture or at expiration. NIH notes that some experts recommend products that list the count at the expiration or use-by date. That is the snapshot the post above describes.
Physician's Choice, which publishes this site, makes 60 Billion Probiotic; it is one option among many daily probiotics. When you compare products, read the strain codes (on the label or the maker's strain page) and the CFU basis first. How the bottle, the date and the storage line bear on that count is covered in our Shelf-stable probiotic checklist: bottle, capsule and CFU at expiration. See the 60 Billion Probiotic label on physicianschoice.com.
Sources for this page
Questions
Is 100 billion CFU better than 60 billion?
Not by count alone. NIH says products with higher CFU counts are not necessarily more effective than products with lower counts. Compare the strains and the CFU basis instead.
Does it need to be refrigerated?
The label says no refrigeration is needed; store cool and dry.