Table 1. Examples of 25 probiotic products available on the commercial market.

Probiotic description (genus, species and strain)	Formulation	Examples of brand names (Manufacturer, Country)	Examples of claims on label
Single strain probiotics
Bacillus coagulans nr	capsules	ProbioSlim (ProbioSlim, Canada, USA)	“Promotes healthy digestion, helps you lose weight”
B. lactis (animalis) DN-173010 (CNCM I-2494)	yogurt	Activia (Danone, France)	“Supports digestive health”
B. animalis lactis Bb-12 (CNCM I-3446)	capsules, powder in sticks, fermented milk	BB-12 (Chr Hansen, USA)	“Supports bowel function, reduces crying in infants”
B. infantis 35624	drink, capsules	Align (Proctor & Gamble, USA)	“Maintains digestive balance”
Clostridium butyricum 588	tablets, drink	MIYA-BM (Miyarisan Pharm, Japan)	“Intestinal health”
Enterococcus faecium SF 68	powder, sachets	Bioflorin (Sanofi, Germany)	“To treat diarrhea”
Escherichia coli Nissle 1917	capsules	Mutaflor (Pharma-Zentiale, Germany)	“For chronic constipation or ulcerative colitis”
L. acidophilus LB	sachet, capsules	Lacteol (Mirren, South Africa)	“Preserves intestinal peristalsis”
L. casei Shirota	fermented milk	Yakult (Yakult, USA)	“Balance your digestive system”
L. casei DN-114001 (CNCM I-1518)	fermented drink, yogurt	Actimel (in Europe) or DanActive (in USA) (Danone, France)	“Supports normal function of immune system”
L. casei rhamnosus Lcr35	vaginal capsules	Gynophilus (Biose, France)	“Helps to recover vaginal flora”
L. johnsonii La1	milk	Bioamicus johnsonii (BioAmicus Probiotics, Canada)	“Assists child’s immune system from allergies, eczema, asthma”
L. plantarum 299v (DSM9843)	fermented oat gruel in fruit drink, capsules	ProViva (Probi AB, Sweden)	“Relieve symptoms of IBS”
L. reuteri DSM 17938	capsules, yogurt	Protectis (BioGaia, Sweden)	“For digestive comfort”
L rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53013)	yogurt, capsules	Culturelle (i-Health, Inc, USA)	“Improves digestive health” “Boosts immune system”
S. boulardii CNCM I-745 (ATCC 74012)	capsules, sachets	Florastor (Biocodex, France)	“Strengthens digestive balance” “Boosts immune response”
Mixtures of probiotic strains
L. acidophilus CL1285 +L. casei Lbc80r + L. rhamnosus CLR2	fermented drink, capsules	Bio K+ (BioK+ Intl, Canada)	“Maintains healthy intestinal flora”
L. helveticus R52 (CNCM I-1722) + L. rhamnosus R11 (CNCM I-1720)	capsules, sachets	Lacidofil (Institut Rosell, Canada)	“Maintains normal healthy intestinal microflora”
L. helveticus (bulgaricus) 33409 + L. gasseri 4962	tablets or sachets	Lactinex (Becton, Dickinson and Comp., USA)	“Replaces intestinal flora”
L. reuteri DSM17938 + L. reuteri PTA5289	lozenges, powder, capsules	Protectis (BioGaia, Sweden)	“Helps restore balance in digestive tract”
L. acidophilus La5 + B. lactis Bb12	yogurt	AB Yogurt (President Enterprise Company, Taiwan)	“Improves normal flora”
L. acidophilus nr +B. infantis nr	capsules	Infloran Berna (Berna, Switzerland)	“Helps restore balance of intestinal bacteria” “Used for diarrhea, vaginal and urinary tract infections”
L. acidophilus gasseri + B. infantis nr	capsules	Linex (Sandoz, Bulgaria)	“Normalizes normal flora”
Bacillus clausii (4 strains, O/C, N/R84, T84, Sin8)	capsules, spores in vial	Enterogermina (Sanofi-Aventis, France)	“Management of pediatric diarrhea, for intestinal flora balance disturbed by diarrhea, poisoning and antibiotics”
Bifido.longum BL03, Bifido. infantis subsp. lactis BI04, Bifido. breve BB02, L. acidophilus BA05, L. plantarum BP06, L. paracasei BP07, L. helveticus BD08, Strept thermophiles BT01	sachets	VSL#3 (VSL Pharm, Inc., Italy)	“Management of ulcerative colitis, ileal pouch and IBS”

Abbreviations: ATCC, American Type Culture Collection; B., Bifidobacterium; CNCM, Collection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganisms; DSM, Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; L., Lactobacillus; nr, strain not reported; S., Saccharomyces boulardii; St., Streptococcus.