Table 1.

 Micro-organism load (according to product label when the study was performed), administration, and main characteristics of preparations analysed

Groups	Micro-organisms	Strains	Dose (twice daily)	Brand*	Price (€)
2	Lactobacillus casei	Rhamnosus GG	6×109 CFU/dose	Dicoflor 60	10.50
3	Saccharomyces boulardii	S boulardii It	5×109 live micro-organisms/dose	Codex†	8.50
4	Bacillus clausii	O/C84, N/R84, T84, SIN84	109 CFU/dose	Enterogermina†	6.50
5	L delbrueckii var bulgaricus, L acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus, B bifidum	LMG-P17550, LMG-P 17549, LMG-P 17503, LMG-P 17500	109 CFU, 109 CFU, 109 CFU, 5×108 CFU/dose	Lactogermina†	10.50
6	Enterococcus faecium	SF 68	7.5×107 CFU/dose	Bioflorin†	10.50

CFU=colony forming units.

*All sold in coloured cardboard boxes.

†Composition, brand name, and costs of these probiotic preparations have changed since study ended.