When comparing Align and Florastor it is important to remember that you are comparing two very different probiotic supplements.
Align is a probiotic bacteria and Florastor is a probiotic yeast. Uusually, you are looking at two different probiotic bacteria but not in this case.
That does give Florastor one very clear cut advantage - it is not affected by antibiotics which only kill bacteria, so is a great choice if you are prescribed a course of antibiotics.
That said, the last time I needed to take antibiotics I took Align before, during and after the course with excellent results.
Florastor branding always states that it contains 250mg rather than giving cfu (which is what most of us go by) but I have found evidence in a scientific journal that the 250mg amounts to 5 billion cfu.
Align | Florastor | |
Probiotic | Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 (also called Bifantis) | Saccharomyces boulardii |
Quantity in one capsule/tablet | 1 billion | 5 billion |
Suggested daily dose gives you | 1 billion | 10 billion |
Where does it come from | Human origin | Yeast found on skin of tropical fruits |
Does it contain soy | Ivory and green box - NOYellow and blue box -Trace amount | May contain trace |
Does it contain lactose | No | Yes |
Does it contain milk proteins | Trace amounts | No |
Does it contain gluten | No | No |
Does the capsule contain gelatin | No | No |
Amazon Price October 2014 (prices can change daily) | $19.00 | $35.99 |
Quantity | 28 | 50 |
Is it proven to survive stomach acid | Yes | Yes |
Is it proven to adhere | Yes | Yes |
Are there any possible side effects | Mild short term bloating or gas | Mild short term constipation or thirst |
Customers claim it is good for | Constipation, diarrhea, digestive problems, after gall bladder surgery. IBS, acid reflux | Constipation, diarrheas, IBS, digestive problems, Crohns, severe stomach acidity, |
Clinical studies show | Effective in reducing pain in IBS The probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 displays visceral antinociceptive effects in the rat Treating both individual and global IBS symptoms Bifidobacterium infantis 35624: a novel probiotic for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome Beneficial effects in adults with irritable bowel syndrome Probiotics in allergy management Improvement of IBS symptoms The utility of probiotics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review Relieves many of the symptoms of IBS at doseage of 1 billion cfu Efficacy of an encapsulated probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 in women with irritable bowel syndrome | Helpful for acute and chronic gastrointestinal diseases Efficacy and safety of the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii for the prevention and therapy of gastrointestinal disorders Improvement of IBS symptoms Systematic review and meta-analysis of Saccharomyces boulardii in adult patients Improved intestinal permeability in patients with Crohns, even though complete normalization was not achieved Influence of Saccharomyces boulardii on the intestinal permeability of patients with Crohn's disease in remission. Relieves traveler's diarrhea and AAD Nuclear Receptor Signaling, and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways |
Although these two each contain different quantities of cfu it is important to remember that each contains the appropriate quantity of bacteria/yeast for healing.
These are two heavyweights in the world of probiotic supplements. Both have a ton of research done on them - far more than most probiotics.
Of real relevance is the fact that the research done has been done on the actual supplement that you buy. I can't stress how important this is.
So often, research is done on the strain of bacteria or yeast but not the the actual supplement that the end consumer will buy.
There is clear difference in price between the two (not comparing the same quantity so difference is not as much as it looks) but if you get relief from your symptoms then that probably is not an issue.
Both are available online at Amazon.
Align Digestive Care Probiotic Supplement
Or if you live in the UK from your local Amazon below.
Align B. Infantis 35624 Probiotic Supplement 28 Count
Measures pH in the correct range for women's health