Probiotics are the beneficial microorganisms naturally found throughout the digestive tract. The majority of them live in the small and large intestine, also referred to as the “gut.” Most are bacteria or yeasts, and some permanently live in our gut while others just pass through. To learn more about probiotics in general, check out this post.
We tend to associate probiotics with digestive health. While optimal digestion does depend on what’s living in your gut, the benefits of a balanced microbiome extend to many complex bodily processes such as the immune system, detoxification, memory, and metabolism.
Most people, including women over the age of 50, can benefit from a probiotic supplement especially one that’s formulated to target their specific needs. But with so many choices, how do you know which supplement is right for you?
Consider choosing a probiotic formulated to address the health concerns you’re looking to manage or improve rather than one marketed specifically for a certain age or gender.
Omni-Biotic prioritizes results over demographics. Here’s a list of some Omni-Biotic products that might target your specific needs and the pros and cons of 13 other popular brands you may come across.
1. Omni-Biotic Hetox
Women over 50 lead increasingly active and inspired lives. However, the physical changes that happen around age 50—largely due to the onset of menopause—remain the same. This includes changes in weight and metabolism, higher cholesterol levels, changes in insulin sensitivity, and low-grade inflammation.
This relatively rapid change in physiology puts new demands on your body and can strain your liver’s ability to manage metabolic processes. What does this have to do with the gut and probiotics? Everything, because they’re connected through the “gut-liver axis.”
The effects of aging and menopause create a kind of perfect storm for metabolic dysfunction. As we get older, we’re naturally more susceptible to gut permeability, or “leaky gut,” which allows more toxins to enter our bloodstream and burden a liver that’s already working hard.
Omni-Biotic HETOX targets this gut-liver axis to promote normal detoxification and metabolism. The probiotic strains used in this supplement help keep the gut lining strong so toxins don’t enter the bloodstream. Without this extra toxic load, the liver can function better.
We get that the terms “detox” and “leaky gut” are often overused, poorly understood, and hard to measure. But a 12-week study of overweight, post-menopausal women using Omni-Biotic HETOX saw a reduction in fat percentage, waist circumference, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. At the same time, leaky gut measurably improved.
If you’re struggling with age-related weight gain despite healthy habits, Omni-Biotic HETOX might be worth checking out.
- Type: highly effective powder formulation with prebiotic nutrients
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 1 sachet per day
- Dietary Considerations: Hypoallergenic, vegan, non-GMO
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: Yes
2. Omni-Biotic AB 10
The 10 bacterial strains combined in Omni-Biotic AB 10 restore the gut with microbes that support healthy digestion, and they’re particularly effective for minimizing the effects of diarrhea.
People of all ages get diarrhea on occasion, but there are circumstances and lifestyle factors that might make a targeted probiotic supplement useful for older adults.
For example, the older you are, the more antibiotics you’ve likely been exposed to. One round of antibiotics alone can wipe out colonies of beneficial bacteria from the gut, and multiple rounds over time can have a cumulative effect on the microbiota.
The probiotics in Omni-Biotic AB 10 are highly effective in reducing the severity and occurrence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Emerging research even suggests this probiotic can reduce the risk of contracting C. diff, a hard-to-control infection of particular concern among older adults.
If you’re a traveler or even just adventurous in your own environment, you’re no doubt aware of the risk of contracting travelers diarrhea or infectious diarrhea. Omni-Biotic AB 10 can help populate your gut with the probiotic strains effective in fighting off these germs or at least help restore your microbiome after recovering from an infection.
- Type: highly effective powder formulation with prebiotic nutrients
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 1-2 sachets per day
- Dietary Considerations: Hypoallergenic, vegan, non-GMO
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: Yes
3. Omni-Biotic Balance
This probiotic supplement supports healthy digestion in women over 50 but in a different way than Omni-Biotic AB 10.
Rather than targeting diarrhea as a health concern, Omni-Biotic Balance contains six beneficial bacteria strains, including L. casei and B. animalis, that improve occasional bloating and constipation. And let’s face it, an increase in constipation and bloating comes with the territory of getting older.
Insider tip: What many brands don’t tell you is that different strains perform different functions in the gastrointestinal tract. This is why choosing a brand that formulates its supplements to target specific needs is important.
Beyond keeping you regular, Omni-Biotic Balance also helps combat candida overgrowth and yeast infections that become increasingly common with age.
What makes this, and all Omni-Biotic products, unique is their delivery system. The powdered formulations are packaged in single-serve sachets that protect the freeze-dried probiotics from moisture and heat until you’re ready to use them.The unique powder delivery ensures that 83% of the probiotic bacteria reach the intestine alive, compared to an average of 7% across 10 leading US capsule brands.
- Type: highly effective powder formulation with prebiotic nutrients
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 1-2 sachets per day
- Dietary Considerations: Hypoallergenic, vegan, non-GMO
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: Yes
4. Omni-Biotic Stress Release
The physiological effects of stress become more pronounced the older you get. During a stressful time, cortisol and blood sugar rise, changes occur in your digestion, and you experience some degree of inflammation.
Over time, these effects can accumulate. Some researchers believe these stress-induced effects contribute to characteristics of aging like chronic high blood pressure, weight gain, constipation, and even mood and cognitive changes.
Probiotics can actually help you manage the mental and physical effects of stress. Omni-Biotic’s Stress Release psychobiotic targets the “gut-brain axis”—a thriving communication network in your body that regulates hormones, neurotransmitters, and inflammatory cells.
With strains like L. planetarium, L. lactis, and B. lactis, this award-winning psychobiotic helps strengthen the gut-brain axis to minimize the impact of stress on the body and mind.
Omni-Biotic tests the final formulations of all its products to make sure the strains work effectively together and that they can survive in the body long enough to exert their beneficial effects. As you’ll see as you read on, most brands don’t invest so much in research and quality.
- Type: highly effective powder formulation with prebiotic nutrients
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 1-2 sachets per day
- Dietary Considerations: Hypoallergenic, vegan, non-GMO
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: Yes
5. Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Once Daily Women’s
Garden of Life has an extensive line of “Dr. Formulated” probiotics. This one is geared toward women of any age and contains a combination of 16 lactobacillus and bifidobacterium strains to support general digestive, vaginal and immune health. Garden of Life is increasingly promoting the fact that it’s derived from “raw” sources but doesn’t offer consumers any compelling evidence to the benefit of this feature.
It also contains prebiotic fiber and avoids the use of yeast in the formulation, which is important for women sensitive to yeasts.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 1 capsule per day
- Dietary Considerations: Dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, vegetarian, raw, and non-GMO
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
6. Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Women 50 and Wiser
This Garden of Life product is more complex. It has 33 bacteria and yeast strains, mainly from “raw” whole food sources like yogurt and kefir. It claims to support the health concerns of women over 50, but in reality, it’s almost identical to other products by the same brand marketed to other demographics. Nevertheless, it’s the only product on the list that alludes to the relationship between probiotics and thyroid health, which is backed up by research.
Additional ingredients include enzymes, minerals, and raw foods like carrot, plum, bell pepper, and cherry. This could be a pro or con, depending on your specific needs. It’s best to check the label carefully and to remember there are no studies on the final formulation.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: It’s unclear if refrigeration is required
- Dosage: 3 capsules per day in divided doses
- Dietary Considerations: Gluten-free, soy-free, raw, and non-GMO. Contains dairy.
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
7. Culturelle Digestive Daily Probiotic
Culturelle is a probiotic brand with a lot of clout. This product uses only one strain— Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG—plus a prebiotic. It’s not specific to women over 50, but that doesn’t matter because people of any age and gender can benefit from this highly-regarded strain.
The downside? Taking a single-strain probiotic every day won’t necessarily increase microbial diversity in the gut. In other words, a product that populates the gut with not just more beneficial bacteria, but more types, is especially important as you age.
- Type: Capsule or chewable
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 1 capsule or chewable tablet per day; 2 in divided doses if traveling or experiencing digestive upset
- Dietary Considerations: Does not contain: gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, nuts, or peanuts. Non-GMO, vegetarian/vegan
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: Unclear, although L. rhamnosus has been well-studied
8. Renew Life Ultimate Flora Probiotic Adult 50+
This supplement provides 12 bifidobacteria and lactobacillus probiotic strains for digestive health and regularity. Like Omni-Biotic, the label even lists the substrains (the combination of letters and/or numbers that come after the name of the bacteria).
But this is where supplement shopping can get confusing: The composition of this product is similar to some other Renew Life products except the packaging that says it’s formulated for adults 50+. In addition, there are a few versions of the product—two types of shelf-stable capsules in “go packs” and capsules that require refrigeration.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: Capsules require refrigeration. Go-packs are shelf-stable.
- Dosage: 1 capsule per day with or without food
- Dietary Considerations: Dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, vegetarian, and non-GMO
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
9. Seed Synbiotic
This brand offers only one product—a probiotic designed to offer “whole body” benefits to all adults. Its 24 broad-spectrum probiotic strains come in a capsule containing a prebiotic on the outside and probiotics on the inside.
Seed Synbiotic claims to promote B12 production in the body. While some other products on this list might also do this, the brand highlights a good point—B12 is generally only obtained through consuming animal products, but some probiotic strains, like certain substrains of L. planetarium, can actually promote the synthesis of this nutrient in the intestines. What’s more, this is a particularly good reminder for older adults because your risk of B12 deficiency increases as you age.
Seed appears motivated to stand out among others with its sustainability angle. While that may or may not make a difference in how it works for you, at least the brand tests its final formulation and lists the probiotic substrains.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: capsule: 2 per day at the same time
- Dietary Considerations: Free from gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, sesame, corn, glycophosphate/AMPA, and binders. Prop 65 compliant and not of animal or soil origin
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: Yes
10. Zenwise Health Digestive Enzymes
Here’s a product that combines 10 probiotic strains along with several digestive enzymes. Combining probiotics with digestive enzymes can be appropriate for some, but if you don’t have an enzyme deficiency, you may be better off choosing a probiotic that’s specifically targeted for your needs.
A red flag—the label doesn’t guarantee the potency of any of the probiotic strains except one, the spore-forming strain Bacillus subtlis. Spore-forming probiotics may not be suitable for everyone and many brands, including Omni-Biotic, choose not to include them.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 1 capsule before meals
- Dietary Considerations: Vegetarian
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: None mentioned
11. Replenish The Good Women’s Probiotic
This product targets women’s urinary and immune health by combining six commonly-used strains of probiotics with cranberry extract and D-mannose, which can help prevent and manage general UTIs. 2000 IU of vitamin D per serving is a convenient addition, especially for adults over 50.
In theory, this formulation makes sense—if you suffer from frequent UTIs, you’ve probably had your fair share of antibiotics. The probiotics can heal antibiotic-induced damage and populate the urinary tract with beneficial organisms, while the other ingredients help tackle UTIs from another angle. Unfortunately, there aren’t studies on the final formulation.
- Type: Tablet
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 2 per day, can take up to 6 per day as needed
- Dietary Considerations: May contain traces of dairy. No: gluten, soy, yeast, lactose, nuts, eggs, shellfish, lactose. Non-GMO, vegetarian
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
12. Jarrow Formulas Saccharomyces Boulardii + MOS
This hyper-specific product contains just one probiotic yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii. MOS stands for manno-oligosaccharides and is the preferred prebiotic (or “food”) for this particular yeast. This strain is sometimes indicated to prevent or improve diarrhea, but a multi-strain probiotic may provide more benefit. S. boulardii shouldn’t be taken by those with yeast sensitivities/allergies or who take antifungal medications.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 1-2 capsules per day
- Dietary Considerations: No wheat, gluten, soybeans, dairy, egg, fish/shellfish, or peanuts/tree nuts
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: S. Boulardii has been studied, but no mention of a study on this particular final product
13. Lunakai Probiotic Gummies For Adults
Lunakai makes no specific health claims for this product other than it “may help maintain proper digestion.” With only one strain of probiotic, B. coagulans, and 4 grams of added sugar per serving, this supplement might satisfy your sweet tooth but probably won’t do much to promote a diverse microbiome.
It also contains an “antioxidant blend” and small amounts of vitamin C. The formulation also appears to include a B vitamin (either biotin or folic acid), but the discrepancy between the packaging label and the product description makes it hard to tell which.
- Type: Gummy
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 2 gummies per day
- Dietary Considerations: Vegan and gluten-free
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
14. Wholesome Wellness Women’s Raw Probiotic
This comprehensive supplement is similar to Garden of LIfe’s RAW Probiotic for Women 50+. It combines 34 strains of “raw” probiotic bacteria and yeasts, plus digestive enzymes and prebiotics. Also included is a “health complex” containing cranberry, dandelion, d-mannose, and hibiscus.
If you decide to try this supplement and you don’t like the way you feel, we urge you not to give up on probiotics. There’s so much in this formulation that it could be hard to determine what’s not working well with your body. There are no studies backing up this product, but the company offers a 365-day money-back guarantee.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 2 capsules per day
- Dietary Considerations: Medical Grade, Organic, Non-GMO, Cruelty-Free, Live, Vegan Probiotics with NO: Binders, Soy, Gluten, Dairy, Milk, Egg, Wheat, Peanuts, Shellfish, Fish, Additives, Hormones, Pesticides, Herbicides, or Preservatives.
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
15. Flora Udo’s Choice Advanced Adult’s Probiotic
Flora Udo makes this straightforward adult probiotic targeting digestive health in people over the age of 55. It lists 7 “senior specific” substrains. However, the benefits of these strains are not limited to older adults. It requires refrigeration which can be inconvenient and risks the quality of the product. It’s not dairy-free or soy-free, so take note if you’re allergic or sensitive to these ingredients.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: Requires refrigeration
- Dosage: 1 capsule, 1-3 x/day on a full stomach
- Dietary Considerations: Vegetarian, raw, gluten-free. Contains traces of milk and soy.
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
16. Vitamin Bounty Women’s Pro-Daily
This supplement isn’t age-specific but is formulated for women’s vaginal, urinary, digestive, and immune health. It contains 5 strains of bacteria (substrains are not listed) plus a prebiotic. This product is a little different because it incorporates the botanicals ashwagandha and black cohosh.
Ashwagandha is an “adaptogen” that can help the body cope with stress, and black cohosh may naturally help relieve menopausal symptoms. While many women find these helpful, they’re not indicated for everyone and can produce side effects.
Instead of an all-in-one supplement, you may have better results starting with a probiotic that targets your specific concerns then integrating specific botanicals into your routine that are most appropriate for your wellness goals.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: Not specified
- Dosage: 2-4 capsules/day
- Dietary Considerations: dairy-free
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
17. MaryRuth Organics Liquid Probiotic
Here’s a liquid probiotic with 12 non-specific strains of bacteria. It’s geared toward any age and gender to support gut health, digestion, and immunity. Unlike capsules, liquid supplements allow you to adjust the dose, which could be helpful to reduce the temporary side effects if you’re just starting out with probiotics. The brand, however, doesn’t mention the research behind the formulation, and the product contains alfalfa grass which is a possible allergen.
- Type: Liquid
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 3ml/day
- Dietary Considerations: Dairy-free, gluten and wheat-free, nut-free, soy-free, sugar-free, vegan, non-GMO, organic
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
How Can Probiotics Benefit Women Over 50?
Probiotics can make a big difference in how your body and mind adjust to the changes that happen around age 50 and beyond. A supplement doesn’t have to be made specifically for women 50+ to work well (that’s often just marketing, anyway). Your money is probably better spent on a supplement that meets your specific health needs.
Digestive Health
Shifting hormone levels, changes in your stress response, and less movement are some of the factors that can contribute to constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other disruptions in bowel regularity as you get older.
And that thick feeling around the middle? It could be gas and bloating rather than menopausal weight gain. Probiotics can help by optimizing the number and diversity of good bacteria in the microbiome. This also helps prevent or shorten the duration of occasional diarrhea.
Vaginal Health
The vagina’s microbial ecosystem shifts around age 50. Declining estrogen levels during and after menopause cause vaginal pH to rise and beneficial lactobacillus to die off. This leaves it susceptible to the effects of pathogens and candida, causing infections like UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, and yeast infections. Probiotics help prevent candida overgrowth by repopulating the body with beneficial bacteria.
Overall Health
The role the gut microbiome plays in overall health and well-being can’t be overstated. A healthy body requires a healthy gut. That’s because the gut interacts with other key systems in the body, involving the brain, liver, thyroid, and immune system.
Potential health benefits of probiotics include:
- Regular digestion
- Weight management
- Balanced mood
- Fewer infections
- Better skin
- Renewed energy levels
- Allergy support
How Can Probiotics Help with Menopause?
Probiotics help keep the body populated with the beneficial bacteria needed to help your body adjust to changing hormone levels. For many women, menopause brings on mood changes, weight gain, digestive woes, decreased energy, and an increase in certain infections. While the roller coaster of menopause-related changes tapers off over time, probiotics help ease the transition.
What to Look for in a Probiotic for Women Over 50
Shopping for dietary supplements can be confusing. Probiotics are no different. The good news is you don’t need to limit your search to products made specifically for women over 50. We argue you shouldn’t. Here’s what to look for instead:
Targeted formulation. Different strains of probiotics behave differently in the body. For example, if you were looking to improve symptoms of IBS with diarrhea, you wouldn’t use a product designed to ease IBS with constipation. As an average consumer, it’s hard to know which strains are proven to support which health concerns. What’s more, the health claims on probiotic supplements often sound similar. So how could you possibly tell which product is targeted to your needs? Some brands will go out of their way to help you choose the right formulation through education and customer service. Omni-Biotic, for example, offers a website quiz to help you find the best product for your specific needs.
Colony Forming Units (CFUs). This is the number of active probiotics in each serving and can range from 1 billion to 100 billion. Rather than looking for the product with the highest CFU count, check that the brand guarantees a delivery system that allows the probiotics to survive from manufacturing to your intestines.
Delivery system. Probiotic supplements come in many forms, most commonly capsule, powder, and liquid. How it gets into your body, though, is less important than how many live CFUs make it to your gut. Again, look for a brand that you know invests in technology to ensure survivability. Omni-Biotic is a good example.
Omni-Biotic probiotics come in a powder. The freeze-dried probiotic bacteria are combined with essential prebiotic nutrients. The powder is mixed in water prior to intake. This activates the probiotic bacteria and makes them strong for the passage through the acidic environment of the stomach. As a result, 83% of probiotic bacteria in Omni-Biotic survive the passage into the intestine, compared to an average of 7% across 10 leading US capsule brands.
Ingredient list. Remember to check the label to ensure the supplement doesn’t contain probiotic strains you know won’t work with your body. Also, keep an eye out for added ingredients you don’t want or that will trigger an allergic reaction.
Available research. Does the brand proudly offer details about its research on the product’s final formulations? Many will mention studies on certain strains in general, but that doesn’t mean the supplement itself was tested.
You can also jump over to How to Choose a Probiotic Supplement for more pointers.
Final Thoughts
With age, beneficial bacteria decline. This affects almost all body systems, including digestion, immunity, mood, memory, weight, and metabolism. Targeted probiotics, like Omni-Biotic's, can help women over 50 live their best lives by preserving the diversity and balance of the microbiome. They can also ease some of the discomfort associated with menopause.
Take our quiz to learn which formulation might be best suited to your specific needs.
