Labdoor, the online supplements marketplace with reviews based on independent testing, announced today that their new probiotics rankings are now published. Previous rankings were refreshed based on the latest medical research and testing methods, so consumers can have up-to-date guidance for shopping in a notoriously confusing market.
The probiotics market is booming. In fact, its market size in 2015 was USD 37 billion in terms of ingredient sales alone, fueled by an increasing awareness of the link between nutrition, gut flora, and health. It’s good news, then, that scientific research on probiotics is catching up to this interest. Researchers are also finding clues that probiotics may improve immune system health and mental health.
Labdoor’s latest testing shows that probiotics labelling and research are currently mismatched. Although most probiotics are still labelled in terms of proprietary blends and total bacterial counts, we now know that bacterial strains are specific to the health condition you’re trying to treat. It’s why the Center for Responsible Nutrition recommends that the industry moves toward specifying strain amounts as a best practice. Out of 37 products in the analysis, only 14 listed amounts of individual strains, nine of which provided strains at levels shown to be effective in current research.
Striking differences in quality were also apparent. Products ranged from having three times the bacteria they claimed to practically no viable bacteria at all, and all but four products were free of potentially harmful yeast or mold contaminants. As research continuous to evolve, Labdoor aims to update its probiotics rankings and testing methods to follow suit.
About Labdoor
Labdoor is a supplements marketplace featuring over 800 products and counting, alongside scientific reviews and lab testing results, so consumers can shop with simple, objective facts about the quality and safety of products they entrust with their health.
