Your Top 5 Questions About DS-01®, Answered

Written by Seed’s SciCare Team
Reviewed by Jennie O’Grady: Senior SciComms Specialist at Seed

It’s been six years since DS-01^® Daily Synbiotic was released into the world, to the great relief of gut microbiomes everywhere. Since then, more than one million people have experienced the power of our innovative two-in-one probiotic and prebiotic formula.

Some things have stayed the same since 2018—such as DS-01^®’s signature delivery technology (the ViaCap^®) and whole-body perks. But with new members (hello and welcome!) and new developments constantly trickling in, a new lineup of product questions has followed.

We’ve got answers. Here, our SciCare team* unpacks five of this year’s most Googled questions about DS-01^®—including where to get it, when to take it, and how to know it’s working. 

* 👋 SciCare is our team of experts who answer all your science, health, and product-related questions. (They’ve fielded 27,000 of ’em in 2024 alone!) Have a question? Email scicare@seed.com.

Where do you buy DS-01^®?

Our science-first formula is now more accessible than ever. DS-01^® can be purchased directly on our website or through some of your go-to retailers: Amazon.com, Erewhon, and, as of this year, Target locations across the country. 

Both DS-01^® and PDS-08^® Pediatric Daily Synbiotic are now available at your local Target or on Target.com, so you can grab a synbiotic while picking up groceries, laundry detergent, and home goods. Target is also the exclusive home to our new DS-01^® 14-Day Gut Reset, a two-week rapid protocol of DS-01^® formulated to restore healthy gut function during times of occasional disruption.*

We’re committed to constantly expanding access to our innovations and bringing our solutions to more humans around the world. This Target launch is just the beginning.

What is in DS-01^®? 

Don’t be fooled by DS-01^®’s sleek design. We’ve managed to pack billions of beneficial bacteria, plus an innovative prebiotic to fuel your existing microbiota, into every daily dose.

DS-01^® is a synbiotic, meaning it contains both probiotics and prebiotics. Its inner capsule stores 24 probiotic strains that have been clinically and scientifically studied to support your gut (and beyond—more on the whole-body benefits below).* A daily dose of DS-01^® contains 53.6 billion AFU of viable probiotic cells; roughly equivalent to the yearly acorn yield of 24.4 million oak trees (in case you were wondering 🌳).¹

Speaking of plants, the synbiotic’s vegan acid-resistant outer capsule is naturally pigmented with chlorophyll. It stores the product’s prebiotic component: 400mg of polyphenolic compounds like punicalagins. Extracted from the fruit and skin of Indian pomegranate, these punicalagins are known as Microbiota-Accessible Polyphenolic Precursors™️ (MAPPs for short), a novel class of non-fermenting prebiotics. 

Unlike fructooligosaccharide (FOS), galactooligosaccharide (GOS), and inulin found in many other prebiotic formulas, MAPPs are not fermented by your gut bacteria—so they’re considered gentle on the stomach and FODMAP-diet friendly.

EXPLORE FURTHER: Prebiotics 101

All of the ingredients in DS-01^® are housed in our proprietary capsule-in-capsule system: the ViaCap^®. This nesting doll-like shell is designed to protect the viability of the beneficial probiotic organisms as they make the long, turbulent journey through your digestive system, from your mouth all the way to your colon, where they deliver most of their benefits. 

Aside from those active ingredients, DS-01^® contains organic rice fiber and an organic rice extract blend to help prevent clumping and support shelf-life. 

To recap, DS-01^® contains:

• 24 probiotic strains (53.6 billion AFU) not commonly found in other probiotics or foods
• Prebiotics from Indian pomegranate
• No artificial colors or preservatives
• Naturally derived vegan outer and inner capsules

There’s a lot we don’t include in DS-01^®, too. Throughout our extensive third-party testing process, we continuously monitor DS-01^® for more than 500 different pesticides, all major heavy metals, and more than 20 allergens. Our synbiotic undergoes 50 quality assurance and quality control checkpoints, so you can trust that DS-01^® contains exactly what’s listed on the label—nothing more and nothing less. 

Who should take DS-01^®?

We won’t sugarcoat it: We live in a world that’s constantly attacking our gut microbiomes. Factors like chronic stress, a sedentary lifestyle, ultra-processed foods, and antibiotics can all throw off the balance of our microbiomes and cause noticeable gut health issues on a daily (if not hourly) basis.

It’s no wonder that nearly two in three adults report having at least one GI issue in the past week, with bloating, occasional constipation, gas, and irregularity being some of the most common.² That’s where DS-01^® comes in. 

Supporting the gut microbiome with DS-01^® offers a pathway for relief from digestive issues. Think: Improved regularity and bowel movement frequency, better stool quality and consistency, and fewer digestive discomforts like gas and bloating.*

Even if you have a stomach of steel (lucky you!), making DS-01^® part of your daily routine can be worthwhile. The gut is a central command center for multiple organ systems and pathways throughout the body—equipped with two-way telephone lines to your brain, skin, and more. Translation: When your gut microbiome is thriving, it helps the rest of your body thrive too.

Fewer breakouts, glowing skin, and less sluggishness are just a few results customers notice when taking the formula. In member testimonials, Seed customers also report feeling lighter and less “weighed down” after starting DS-01^®.*

DS-01^® Daily Synbiotic is specifically formulated with adults (18+) in mind. If you’re looking for a prebiotic for the 3- to 17-year-old crowd, check out PDS-08^®.

When should I take DS-01^®? 

Everybody and every body is different, so there’s no “best” time of day to take DS-01^®. Instead, you should find a time that works best for your unique body and routine—be it morning, evening, or night.

It’s also up to you whether you take the product with food. After extensive testing of the ViaCap^®, we’ve found that it delivers comparable amounts of bacteria to the end of the small intestine in both fasted and fed conditions. In other words, DS-01^® should be effective when consumed on both an empty and a full stomach. 

You don’t always need to take the capsules at exactly the same time, either. Just make sure you’re taking them on a continuous, daily basis. Probiotics, in general, are transient microbes, so consistency is key.

What sorts of changes should I expect with DS-01^®?

DS-01^® is formulated to reduce abdominal bloating, improve intermittent constipation, and make pooping easier in as little as two weeks.*

That said, there is no “standard” experience with our synbiotic. Some people notice better digestive health and gut function shortly after they begin taking DS-01^®. For others, it may take longer. Some folks may have a temporary acclimation period, in which their bowel movements become slightly more irregular for a few weeks before normalizing, while others skip this adjustment phase altogether. 

Since the product works on a microscopic level, there’s also a chance you won’t notice some of its effects right away. For example, certain DS-01^® strains help support the production of critical gut metabolites like butyrate and urolithin A, and essential micronutrients, like vitamin B12 and folate. This won’t be as noticeable as, say, an easy-to-expel poop. 

But trust us when we say that results are happening behind the scenes—and we have a mountain of research to show for them. 

Over 20 clinical and mechanistic studies demonstrate how the bacteria included in DS-01® benefit the gut and beyond. We’ve also conducted our own double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials on the formula as a whole (a rarity in the supplement industry) to expand upon the benefits of DS-01^® and ensure its safety and effectiveness.

Remember: Your body is a vast ecosystem that’s delicately intertwined. Positive changes in one area can spark gradual improvements in others as well. As long as you’re taking DS-01^® daily and continuously, know that its beneficial microbes and prebiotics are hard at work to support you and your long-term health.

We receive and answer questions like these every day. Stay tuned for more SciCare roundups on Cultured. If you have any questions of your own, email us at scicare@seed.com.