Physician's Choice
What Is the Best Probiotic to Take? How to Choose One by Its Label
Updated Oct 15, 2026 · 7 sources
No single probiotic is best for everyone. A probiotic’s effects depend on its strain, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that no official recommendations cover probiotics for healthy people.1,5 Choose by the label: the full strain name and a CFU count through the expiration date. Many supplements hold 1 to 10 billion CFU per dose, and a higher count is not necessarily more effective.2
Key points
- Probiotics are named by genus, species and strain, and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) says their effects are strain- and combination-specific, not species-specific.1,5
- The AGA says a probiotic label should give the group, species and strain, and how many microorganisms will still be alive on the use-by date.5
- More CFUs, or more types of bacteria, do not by themselves make a probiotic more effective.2,5
- The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements suggests asking your healthcare provider to help pick the probiotic, the dose and how long to take it.1
What probiotic is best for you?
The one with a strain studied for your reason, chosen with your healthcare provider. Different probiotics can act differently. NCCIH gives an example: a benefit seen with one Lactobacillus does not mean a different Lactobacillus, or a Bifidobacterium, would show it too.3 Effects may also vary from person to person, NCCIH adds.4 In its 2020 guideline, the AGA backed certain probiotic formulations in only three clinical situations.6
NCCIH also says that in most cases researchers do not yet know which probiotics help, how much people would need to take, or who would benefit most.3
How to choose a probiotic
Start with your reason, not the product. Ask your healthcare provider which probiotic, what dose and how long, as the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements suggests,1 then check the label against the list below. If you are taking a probiotic for a specific reason and the label lists only the genus and species, the AGA suggests asking the company which strains it uses and what research supports its claims.5
What to look for in a probiotic: a label checklist
Look for five things: each microbe’s full name down to the strain, a CFU count stated through the expiration or use-by date, that count in context, the date itself with storage directions, and quality testing. The table shows why each matters and where to find it.
| What to look for | Why (source) | Where it is on a label |
|---|---|---|
| The genus, species and strain code of each microbe | ODS: probiotics are named by genus, species and strain.1 AGA: effects are strain- and combination-specific, and many labels list only the group and species.5 | The probiotic blend in the Supplement Facts panel. If only species are printed, check the maker’s website or ask the company. |
| A CFU count stated through the expiration or use-by date | ODS: CFU counts can drop over time, so a count made at manufacture may not match what is in the bottle when you take it; some experts suggest a count stated through the expiration or use-by date.1 | The CFU line in the Supplement Facts panel, or a note next to it or on the product page. |
| The count in context | ODS: many supplements hold 1 to 10 billion CFU per dose and some hold 50 billion or more, but a higher count is not necessarily more effective.2 | The CFU line. Labels must list the microorganisms’ total amount by mass, which counts live and dead cells alike, so the CFU count tells you more.2 |
| The expiration or use-by date, and storage directions | ODS: the label gives both; some probiotics need refrigeration and others can be kept at room temperature.1 | On the bottle or box. |
| Quality testing | ODS: independent organizations offer quality testing and a seal showing a product was properly made, contains what its label lists and has no harmful levels of contaminants; a seal does not mean a product is safe or effective.7 NCCIH notes reports of probiotic products that held microorganisms their labels did not list.3 | A seal on the package, or the maker’s testing page. |
Is a higher CFU count or more strains better?
Not by itself. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says a higher CFU count does not, on its own, mean more benefit, and that a product’s benefits, if any, depend on both its strains and its CFU count.1 The AGA says the same about variety: more bacteria, or more types, do not make a probiotic more effective.5 Supplements can hold anywhere from one strain to many.2
Physician’s Choice probiotics, read against the checklist
Three of our labels, read against the checklist above. The table shows what each label prints; it is not a ranking.
| Product | Microbes named on the label | CFU per capsule | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 Billion Probiotic | 10 species. Strain codes, such as Lc-11® and La-14®, are on the product page, not the label. | 60 billion | 1 capsule daily, with or without food |
| Women’s Probiotic | 6 species. Strain codes, such as Lp-115® and Lpc-37®, are on our Vaginal Probiotic strains page, not the label. | 50 billion | 1 capsule daily, with or without food |
| Vaginal Probiotic | 3 strains, each with its code: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GR-1™, Limosilactobacillus reuteri RC-14™ and Lactobacillus crispatus LBV88™ | 6 billion | 1 capsule daily with water, with or without food |
60 Billion Probiotic: 60 billion CFU at expiration, across 10 strains identified by strain code. Daily support for your gut.‡ Its label also lists a 150 mg prebiotic blend of organic inulin and organic acacia fiber, and its box says no refrigeration is necessary, which our page on whether probiotics need refrigeration explains. See the label.
Every lot of every product is tested for purity and potency at ISO/IEC 17025-accredited labs, the international standard for testing-lab competence. Our testing page explains how.
Safety: who should check with a healthcare provider first
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are seriously ill, or have a weakened immune system, consult your healthcare provider before taking a probiotic or any other dietary supplement.
Our Kids line includes a Kids Chewable Probiotic, Fiber Gummies, and a Probiotic + Fiber Powder. These are the only Physician’s Choice products we recommend for children under 18, and each should be used according to its labeled age range and directions. Always consult your child’s pediatrician or healthcare provider before starting a new supplement routine.
If you have known allergies, review the product’s ingredient list and allergen information and consult your healthcare provider before purchasing or using it. Most of our products are formulated without the top 9 common allergens, but ingredients vary by product.
According to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, probiotics are generally well tolerated by healthy people, though they may cause mild digestive symptoms, such as gas. Probiotics may not be appropriate for everyone, particularly people who are seriously ill or have weakened immune systems. Talk with your healthcare provider before use.
Our 60 Billion Probiotic and Digestive Enzymes contain inulin, and our Fiber Gummies contain chicory root fiber; gut bacteria break down fibers like these, which can cause gas. If bloating is persistent, severe, or feels different than usual, talk with your healthcare provider.
If you experience an adverse event, stop using the product and contact your healthcare provider immediately. Please also notify us at support@physicianschoice.com or 1-877-395-2707.
Questions people ask
What is the best probiotic to take?
There is no single best probiotic for everyone. Choose one whose label names each strain and states its CFU count through the expiration date, and ask your healthcare provider which strain, dose and length of use fit your reason, as the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements suggests.
What should I look for in a probiotic?
The genus, species and strain code of each microbe; a CFU count stated through the expiration or use-by date; the date itself and storage directions; and signs of quality testing. A seal from an independent testing organization shows a product passed its tests, but it does not mean the product is safe or effective.
Is a probiotic with more CFUs better?
Not necessarily. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements puts many supplements at 1 to 10 billion CFU per dose, with some at 50 billion or more, and says a higher count is not necessarily more effective. Benefits, if any, depend on both the strains and the count.
Who should talk to a doctor before taking a probiotic?
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are seriously ill, or have a weakened immune system, consult your healthcare provider before taking a probiotic or any other dietary supplement.
The short version
No single probiotic is best for everyone. Choose by the label, with each strain named in full and a CFU count through the expiration date, and check the choice with your healthcare provider. More CFUs or more strains do not by themselves mean more benefit.
Sources
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Probiotics: Fact Sheet for Consumers. Updated November 17, 2025.
- ODS. Probiotics: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated March 25, 2025.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Probiotics: Usefulness and Safety. Last updated August 2019.
- NCCIH. 5 Things To Know About Probiotics.
- American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), GI Patient Center. Probiotics.
- AGA. AGA does not recommend the use of probiotics for most digestive conditions. June 9, 2020.
- ODS. Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know. Updated January 4, 2023.
How this page was made
Sources fetched October 15, 2026. Label facts: our 60 Billion Probiotic, Women’s Probiotic and Vaginal Probiotic labels and product pages, and our Vaginal Probiotic strains page. Written by Physician’s Choice.
‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.