Info: Available in 30 or 60 Capsules
UltraFlora Spectrum is a powerful, broad spectrum probiotic which may be indicated for those dealing with acute or recurring diarrhea or who have other gastrointestinal (apart from constipation) or immune-system related issues (such as lactose intolerance) which may be due to an unhealthy balance of the microorganisms residing in your intestines brought about by such things as antibiotic usage, a C. difficile infection, or dietary or lifestyle changes.
Info: Available in 30 or 60 Capsules
UltraFlora Spectrum is a powerful, broad spectrum probiotic which may be indicated for those dealing with acute or recurring diarrhea or who have other gastrointestinal (apart from constipation) or immune-system related issues (such as lactose intolerance) which may be due to an unhealthy balance of the microorganisms residing in your intestines brought about by such things as antibiotic usage, a C. difficile infection, or dietary or lifestyle changes.
Product Notes:
Probiotics are types of live bacteria (mainly, but some types of yeast are included in this category, as well), which can benefit your health when ingested or applied topically. They are currently being produced commercially in about eight general types and about 500 specific strains, with a few showing very targeted effects, in clinical studies.
But just as there are broad spectrum antibiotics for times when it's unclear what's actually causing an infection, there are broad spectrum probiotics like this, for times when it's not really clear what's ailing you: only that you feel a little off and are either prone to or actively suffering from diarrhea.
UltraFlora Spectrum provides three of the four most common, well-studied, and well-tolerated types of those seven broad bacterial classes (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Streptococcus), which tend to work by competing with the more harmful or overgrown types of bacteria for nutrients and space, or by reducing the inflammation caused by or otherwise neutralizing some of the toxic by-products of their activities – with an average of two distinct strains of each included. Collectively, they work on both the upper (where most of our 'gut microbiome' resides) and lower intestines, which may be important when it's unclear where the imbalance lies.
It also provides a large amount of a certain type of yeast (Saccharomyces boulardii) found to be particularly effective at reducing diarrhea and reducing fungal infections, without there being a risk of it proliferating to cause its own problems.
Together, they can provide support for both our gastrointestinal health and immune health. The reasons for the latter are that more than 70% of our immune system is actually located in the GI tract, and it can be influenced by probiotics in several ways, supporting it indirectly with the B-vitamins and short chain fatty acids (an energy source) our intestinal flora help produce; protecting it, by improving the gut barrier, to prevent toxins in the colon from entering the bloodstream; and also modulating it more directly, such as by affecting the production of the immune system's cytokines or chemokines messenger cells which trigger inflammatory responses.
Related products: Two of the more well-known strains in this product – Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM® and a variant of Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 – are also featured in two other Metagenics probiotics where they are paired together in equal doses: UltraFlora Balance (which is designed for daily immune health and digestive support for adults, with 15 Billion CFU in all); and MetaKids Probiotic (which has one-third that dose (15 Billion CFU total) in a chewable tablet form).
UltraFlora Spectrum Ingredients:
Each capsule contains:
A 27 billion CFU* blend, of:
Bifidobacterium lactis (Bi-07)**, Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp-115), Lactobacillus salivarius (Ls-33), Lactobacillus acidophilus (NCFM)**, Streptococcus thermophilus (St-21), Bifidobacterium lactis (Bl-04)
3 billion CFU Saccharomyces boulardii
Non-medicinal ingredients: Capsule (hypromellose, sodium copper chlorophyllin), cellulose, silicon dioxide, and stearic acid (vegetable source).
* CFU = Colony Forming Units of total blend at date of expiration.
This product is non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegetarian.
** Bi-07™ and NCFM® are trademarks licensed by DuPont.
Suggested Usage:
Adults: Take 1 capsule daily, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner. If you are taking antibiotics, take the probiotics at least 2 to 3 hours before or after them.
Best if kept refrigerated.
Warnings:
Do not use if you have an immune-compromised condition (e.g. AIDS, lymphoma, patients undergoing long-term corticosteroid treatment). Consult a healthcare practitioner prior to use if you have nausea, fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea or severe abdominal pain. Discontinue use and consult a healthcare practitioner if symptoms of digestive upset (e.g. diarrhea) occur, worsen, or persist beyond 3 days.
Health Canada Natural Product Number: 80038256.
Supporting Science:
“Immunomodulatory Effects of Probiotics on Cytokine Profiles.” BioMed Research International, 2018.
“Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bi-07 supports lactose digestion in vitro and in randomized, placebo- and lactase-controlled clinical trials.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2022.
“Effects of probiotic consumption on the immune system.” Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2019.
“Persistent infection by Salmonella enterica servovar Typhimurium: are synbiotics a therapeutic option? - a case report.” Beneficial Microbes, 2019. [Streptococcus thermophilus St-21 had the strongest inhibitory effects, among the ones tested.]
“Probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 versus placebo for the symptoms of bloating in patients with functional bowel disorders: a double-blind study.” Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 2011.
“Probiotics reduce symptoms of antibiotic use in a hospital setting: a randomized dose response study.” Vaccine, 2014.
“Role of commercial probiotic strains against human pathogen adhesion to intestinal mucus.” Letters in Applied Microbiology, 2007. [L. acidophilus NCFM and L. plantarum Lp-11538 are able to attach to the type of tissue that C. difficile and Staphylococcus aureus congregate at, so as to displace those pathogens.]
“Saccharomyces boulardii: What Makes It Tick as Successful Probiotic?” Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland), 2020.
“Selecting lactic acid bacteria for their safety and functionality by use of a mouse colitis model.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2006. [Lactobacillus salivarius Ls-33 had a significant preventive effect on colitis in mice and should be considered in the prevention or treatment of intestinal inflammation.]
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