Human Health - FAQs
Below are a series of questions.
Absolutely! Please visit our contact page here to send an enquiry.
We have carried out in vitro trials testing our strains at a low pH mimicking the stomach for 2 hours and no significant loss in the viability of the organisms was seen. Further evidence that the strains reach the intestines alive is demonstrated by the growing number of successful randomised-controlled trials (the gold-standard in medical evidence).
Yes, we recommend that you take live bacteria supplements at the same time as antibiotics. It’s best to take the supplement at the opposite end of the day to the antibiotic, or where this is not possible, at least 2 hours away from the antibiotic. We recommend taking Bio-Kult Boosted (1 capsule a day) or Bio-Kult Everyday Gut (4 capsules a day) whilst on antibiotics and continuing for at least 2 weeks after completion of the antibiotic course.
In general, live bacteria supplements have a long history of safe use, and are suitable for the majority of people to take. However, caution is advised in certain groups:
Caution should be used with patients who are immunocompromised or receiving treatment on an intensive care ward. This includes preterm neonates and those receiving treatment in a Neonatal Intensive Care setting. However, it should be noted that live bacteria supplements are not contraindicated in these patient groups and their use is at their doctor’s discretion.
A study from 2008 using Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria species in acute pancreatitis suggested that live bacteria supplements should not be used in this patient group. However subsequent studies have not replicated these results. Further studies should address which strains should be used, when is the optimal timing of administration, and the duration. Therefore, we advise caution when using live bacteria supplements in acute pancreatitis patients, with supplementation being at the doctor’s discretion.
If you are taking any medications or have any medical conditions, please consult your doctor before taking any nutritional food supplements.
Bacteria are categorised using 3 names: 1. The genera (e.g. Lactobacilli or Bacillus) 2. The species (e.g. rhamnosusor subtilis) 3. The specific strain (e.g. LGG or PXN 21). Whilst strains from the same genus and species may exhibit some similar characteristics, they will not act the same at strain level. It is much like comparing a Great Dane with a Chihuahua - both are from the canine genus and the familiaris (domestic dog) species, but they display very different characteristics (at a strain level).
The PXN numbers are numbers we have allocated to each of our strains. These are listed in published studies conducted using our products. No other company can label the strains in this way and associate them with our trial results without our permission.