{"schema_version":"2026-06-12","source":"https://hervitals.co.uk/api/","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","disclaimer":"Information only, not medical advice, and not a substitute for a registered clinician. Supplements are regulated as food, not medicines, and cannot legally claim to treat, prevent or cure any condition. Only EFSA-authorised wording such as \"contributes to normal ...\" is permitted. Always read product labels and speak to your GP or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking other medication. Her Vitals earns affiliate commission on some products it links to.","supplement":{"slug":"probiotics","name":"Probiotics","efsa_roles":["probiotics as a category carry no authorised EFSA health claim, so a product cannot legally state it supports gut health, immunity or digestion in the UK"],"buying_points":["Be cautious of marketing: because there is no authorised EFSA claim for probiotics generally, promises about gut health, bloating or immunity go beyond what the rules allow. The one narrow exception is a specific authorised claim that live yoghurt or fermented milk cultures improve lactose digestion in people who have difficulty digesting lactose.","Check the CFU (colony-forming units) count and the named strain on the label; \"probiotic\" alone tells you very little, since different strains have been studied for different things.","Refrigeration and expiry matter for live-culture products; a product stored or shipped incorrectly may not deliver the CFU count printed on the label.","If you are taking probiotics alongside antibiotics or for a specific digestive condition, speak to your GP or pharmacist, since the right strain and timing depend on the reason you are taking it."],"brands":[{"brand":"Symprove","product":"Original","retailer":"Symprove","form":"Liquid (multi-strain)","suits":"Wanting a well-known UK liquid format","note":"Widely known UK liquid multi-strain product; check the strain list and CFU count."},{"brand":"OptiBac Probiotics","product":"For Everyday","retailer":"OptiBac Probiotics","form":"Capsule","suits":"Wanting a UK brand with strain-specific ranges","note":"UK brand with a range targeted by life stage and use; check the specific strain for your reason for taking it."},{"brand":"Bio-Kult","product":"Advanced Multi-Strain","retailer":"Bio-Kult","form":"Capsule (multi-strain)","suits":"Wanting a multi-strain formulation","note":"UK multi-strain formulation; check the CFU count and strain list on the label."},{"brand":"Boots","product":"Probiotic 7","retailer":"Boots","form":"Capsule","suits":"Wanting a lower-cost high-street option","note":"High-street own-brand probiotic; a lower-cost everyday choice, check the strain and CFU count."}],"url":"https://hervitals.co.uk/probiotics/"}}