Probiotics are live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.

This is the official definition of a probiotic, co-authored by our Chief Scientist, Dr. Gregor Reid, in a joint FAO / WHO working group in 2001.

Let’s break it down:

Live microorganisms: This refers to strains of beneficial bacteria that are consumed. ‘Live’ is a critical word here, and in science, we refer to this as ‘survivability’. To confer benefits, microorganisms must survive the many stages of digestion (think stomach acid and bile), past the small intestine, and make it into the colon, where their work begins.

Adequate amounts: This is very important, and you’ll generally see quantities enumerated on a label as a certain billion or trillion CFU. Each probiotic is associated with an effective dosage, and this dosage amount is arrived at through clinical study.

Health benefit: So you’ve taken some live bacteria in the right amounts. But are they actually doing anything for you? To satisfy the definition of a probiotic, the live cultures must demonstrate a proven health benefit. This means each specific strain (not just the species) must have been clinically verified to cause a beneficial change in the body.

Host: That’s you!