GI biotics (Bacterial strains) 25B CFU

GI Biotics (Bacterial strains) 25B CFU - The most classic formula

GI Biotics (Bacterial strains) 25B CFU from EssentialSeries is our most 'one for all' bacterial strains formula, usually the best choice for anyone unsure which of our 'Biotics' options to pick. GI Biotics is formulated with a blend of bacterial strains cultures with 11 different strains, guaranteeing a total biological activity of 25 billion colony-forming units, combined with Inulin, FOS, Zinc, and Vitamin B2 (riboflavin).

GI Biotics is HSN’s most digestive formula, designed to act specifically on the gastrointestinal system thanks to the zinc in its composition, which helps normal macronutrient metabolism. It has been developed with a specific combination of bacterial strains from the families: Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium. Plus, the presence of prebiotic fibers like fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and fructans (inulin).

The 25B CFU is not a quantity value but an activity measure, the correct way to gauge the effectiveness of a bacterial strains formula. Our 25B CFU is guaranteed until the product’s expiration date, unlike bacterial strains from other brands.

Discover GI Biotics - what makes it unique?

CFU. Know why it matters

The term 'bacterial strain,' as defined by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition:

Refers to bacterial species, bacterial strains, or species of living microorganisms, like Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, etc.

And to meet this properly, the bacterial strains selected in the bacterial strains formula must be alive, so their biological activity (Colony Forming Units) must be known. However, many companies sell bacterial strains products where they only declare the milligrams of powder containing the bacteria. While practical for development, this is unspecific and not very informative for users regarding the formula’s effectiveness, what if the bacteria died in the powder? What good is the amount if there are no 'live bacterial strains'?

25B CFU is an appropriate concentration for chronic, long-term use of a bacterial strain formula aimed at maintenance and without special requirements, a topic we’ll cover later in this description.

Specific selection of bacterial strains

Not all bacterial strains are the same, and we’re not just talking about bacterial strains as products, but about bacterial strains.

'Bacterial strain' is a broad term, there are hundreds of bacteria generally recognized as safe for human consumption and thus usable in food and supplements, but how do we know which strains are useful or beneficial?

We know through scientific studies conducted by researchers from multiple universities worldwide with many people over weeks or even months; these studies establish which specific bacteria have certain properties, which others do, and which have no beneficial physiological effects for the human body.

You’ll find well-known strains like L. Acidophilus, L. Casei, L. Reuteri, and B. Bifidum, among others.

Controlled culture bacterial strains

The bacteria used as bacterial strains in our Biotics range are bacterial strains grown in controlled media by biochemistry specialists, allowing them to multiply properly to reach billions of units in controlled environments and maximize all their beneficial effects.

Many companies buy bacterial strains cultivated by specialists in favorable media, which is easier because if all external conditions needed for bacterial strain growth are provided, it will multiply quickly and easily, but its resistance to the environment is lower. These bacterial strains require refrigeration, are very delicate, and die quickly and easily; in short, they are effective bacterial strain presentations only while alive but have very limited viability.

Bacterial strain / Symbiotic - The role of prebiotics

Bacterial strains are clearly defined as live bacterial strains ingested to colonize the host and perform nutritional functions, but when the term 'bacterial strains' was conceptualized, a parallel concept called 'prebiotic' emerged, categorizing a type of fiber with particular nutritional properties recommended in combination with bacterial strains.

The combination of bacterial strains + prebiotic is called symbiotic and is considered a superior formulation compared to either compound alone.

HSN Biotics don’t require refrigeration

Bacterial strains cultivated in favorable conditions grow in controlled, refrigerated temperatures and require maintaining these conditions for survival, which creates clear logistical challenges at several points:

1.  Manufacturing: Even if bacterial strain developers have the industrial conditions for cold processing, supplement factories (final product) often don’t, so if the bacterial strain powder is handled without refrigeration during manufacturing, it’s no good.
2.  Shipping: Although there are more tools for refrigerated shipping, it remains a difficult process that raises costs for customers.
3.  Storage at home: Keeping bacterial strains in the fridge, taking up space, is objectively worse than storing them at room temperature.

A maintenance formula - how to combine it with 100B CFU?

Besides GI Biotics 25B, we have a 4x more concentrated version: 100B CFU, does this mean 100B CFU is better than 25B CFU?

No, each concentration suits different purposes, each having its place in the diet of someone using bacterial strains, depending on the moment.

25B CFU is considered the usual bacterial strain amount you should use daily for long-term nutritional benefits without special considerations, while 100B CFU is a bacterial strain for occasional use, in specific moments when you need that extra concentration, or for people with particular needs requiring that high concentration chronically.

After this period, you can repeat the cycle, continue with the 25B maintenance dose, or stop use, depending on your needs.

Can bacterial strains be taken with other products?

Yes.

Bacterial strains are compatible with every compound commonly used as dietary supplementation; they can be taken together (even in the same dose) with:

•  Vitamins.
•  Minerals.
•  Plant extracts.
•  Amino acids.
•  Creatine.

And of course with proteins, carbohydrates, isotonics, mass gainers, and any other powder, capsule, or tablet product you can buy at HSN, so you can use GI Biotics completely worry-free alongside these products.

Scientific references on bacterial strains

•  Sanders, M. E., Guarner, F., Guerrant, R., Holt, P. R., Quigley, E. M. M., Sartor, R. B., … Mayer, E. A. (2013). An update on the use and investigation of probiotics in health and disease. Gut, 62(5), 787–796.
•  Shing, C. M., Peake, J. M., Lim, C. L., Briskey, D., Walsh, N. P., Fortes, M. B., … Vitetta, L. (2014). Effects of probiotics supplementation on gastrointestinal permeability, inflammation and exercise performance in the heat. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 114(1), 93–103.
•  Hempel, S., Newberry, S. J., Maher, A. R., Wang, Z., Miles, J. N. V., Shanman, R., … Shekelle, P. G. (2012). Probiotics for the prevention and treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association, 307(18), 1959–1969.
•  McFarland, L. V. (2007). Meta-analysis of probiotics for the prevention of traveler’s diarrhea. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 5(2 SPEC. ISS.), 97–105.
•  Jäger, R., Mohr, A. E., Carpenter, K. C., Kerksick, C. M., Purpura, M., Moussa, A., … Antonio, J. (2019). International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 16(1), 62.
•  Wilkins, T., & Sequoia, J. (2017). Probiotics for Gastrointestinal Conditions: A Summary of the Evidence. American Family Physician, 96(3), 170–178.