Probiotics are bacteria that live in your body and are necessary for healthy living found in the foods we eat and in probiotic supplements. Prebiotics are indigestible fibers found in foods like beans and whole grains that serve as important food sources for the probiotic bacteria living in our intestines.
Certain qualities differentiate prebiotics from probiotic bacteria. Prebiotics don’t contain bacteria but are the fuel to help good bacteria grow. All prebiotics are a type of dietary fiber, such as fiber inulin found in chicory root.
Taking prebiotics with your probiotics may make them more effective and help you maintain a healthy digestive system, improve your immune function, and support communication between the gut and the brain.
When prebiotics and probiotics are combined in a supplement, it’s called a synbiotic. Enriching a probiotic supplement with prebiotic nutrients helps strengthen and nourish the good bacteria so that they can make it through the acidic environment of the stomach alive and are ready to colonize the gut.
It’s also important to note that probiotic and prebiotic combination supplements (i.e., synbiotics) typically have far less fiber than a dedicated prebiotic supplement. In a synbiotic, the fiber is there to keep the bacteria alive on the way to the gut. A dedicated fiber supplement typically delivers higher amounts of dietary fiber. This can be beneficial for anyone struggling to meet the daily recommended dietary fiber intake via their diet. In this list, we’ll take a look at the best prebiotic and probiotic combinations to help you choose the right supplement for you.
All Omni-Biotic probiotics are synbiotics containing freeze-dried probiotic bacteria combined with important prebiotic nutrients in our unique powder delivery system. When the powder is dissolved in water, the freeze-dried bacteria rehydrate and consume the prebiotic nutrients.
As a result, the bacteria become stronger for their passage through the stomach's acidic environment, drastically increasing probiotic survival rates into the intestines.
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.
1. Omni-Biotic Stress Release
The physiological effects of stress can affect your overall health, including your gut health. When you’re feeling stressed, cortisol levels increase, and blood sugar fluctuates. When the body is in fight or flight mode, it shifts its energy toward those functions necessary for fight or flight.
This also means directing blood flow away from the digestive system. If this occurs over long periods, stress can directly impact bowel movements and digestion. Over time, chronic stress can cause inflammation in the body and in the gut.
Since the gut and the brain are connected via a bidirectional communication network referred to as the gut-brain axis, stress-induced changes to the gut microbiome can negatively impact mood, cognitive function, and neurotransmitter production. After all, over 90% of the body’s happiness hormone serotonin is produced in the gut with the help of our beneficial gut bacteria.
Probiotics can help mitigate the physical effects of stress. Omni-Biotic’s Stress Release targets the “gut-brain axis”—a communication network between your digestive system and your brain that regulates hormones, neurotransmitters, and inflammatory cells.
This probiotic contains strains like L. planetarium, L. lactis, and Bifidobacterium lactis. The strains in Omni-Biotic Stress Release were scientifically combined to support the body in times of stress. In clinical studies, Stress Release was shown to promote positive mood, strengthen emotional balance and improve memory and cognitive function.
Omni-Biotic rigorously tests the final formulations of this supplement to confirm the strains work effectively together to exert their beneficial effects on the body.
- Type: a 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
2. Omni-Biotic Hetox
The gut microbiota forms a complex community that impacts your overall health, including your liver’s health. Communication between the gut and the liver occurs bidirectionally, and the gut microorganisms impact the function of the liver.
The liver is one of the main detoxification organs in the body. Since the liver is connected to the intestines via the portal vein, it gets exposed to the products of digestion and absorption, such as toxins from food, chemicals, microplastics, and residue of medications.
When the gut lining is damaged, these unwanted substances can leak from the intestines into the bloodstream and are transported to the liver. If this continues for long periods of time, the liver becomes overburdened, which affects liver function and metabolism.
Omni-Biotic HETOX targets this gut-liver axis to support the liver’s detoxification process and healthy metabolism. The probiotic strains used in this supplement help keep the gut lining strong to help improve liver functioning.
In a 12-week study, researchers noted that participants who received Omni-Biotic HETOX saw favorable changes in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin resistance.
- Type: 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
3. Omni-Biotic Balance
Omni-Biotic Balance contains six beneficial bacterial strains combined specifically to support immune function. As with most probiotics, this combination helps optimize gut function to alleviate occasional bloating and constipation.
The bacteria in Omni-Biotic Balance can play a vital role in balancing gut flora, promoting healthy immune function and influencing the production of anti-inflammatory substances.
Additionally, this probiotic supplement contains fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), a form of prebiotic fiber. The body can’t digest this prebiotic, but the gut bacteria can, so it serves as sustenance for the probiotic strains, increasing its survivability on the way to your gut.
- Type: 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 AB 10
Omni-Biotic AB 10 contains 10 bacterial strains that support healthy digestion and restore the gut microbiome after disruption. Clinical studies with Omni-Biotic AB10 have shown to reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea significantly, and the combination of strains helps inhibit unwanted pathogens, including C. Diff.
A healthy microbiome includes a healthy intestinal mucosa, which means germs have a harder time sticking to the intestine’s lining.
Gut transit time can also provide insight into how healthy your gut is. If you’re constipated, it takes much longer for the food you eat to move through the gut and for digestion to happen. When you have a case of diarrhea, your gut transit time is too fast. Probiotics and prebiotics can help keep your gut transit time in a normal range.
Omni-Biotic AB 10 can help populate your gut with probiotic strains that are effective in fighting off germs and helping restore healthy bacteria after recovering from an illness.
- Type: 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. RenewLife Women’s Daily 2-in-1 Prebiotics + Probiotics
RenewLife Women’s Daily 2-in-1 Prebiotics + Probiotics is formulated to support women’s health by providing 20 billion live cultures from 10 select strains, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus, L. acidophilus, L. gasseri, and L. plantarum. Part of what makes this marketed toward women is the addition of 520 mg of organic cranberry extract, which may help reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.
One of the most common bacteria in probiotic supplements is L. rhamnosus, which has been shown to help manage gastrointestinal infections.
- Type: Capsules
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 2 per day
- Dietary Considerations: vegetarian
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
6. Seedwell 3-in-1 Gut Health Tablets
This tablet combines 2 billion colony forming units (CFU) of Bacillus coagulans with the common prebiotic inulin from chicory root. The formula combines these with apple cider vinegar, which has some bacterial benefits. Apple cider vinegar adds additional probiotics, B-vitamins, and polyphenols (plant-based antioxidants).
Seedwell mentions they are committed to leveraging scientifically-backed and natural ingredients. They have positive reviews on their site from consumers, but their website does not provide any clinical studies on their tablets. This is not uncommon, as many supplement companies do not invest in clinical studies. Yet, rely more on consumer feedback and reviews.
- Type: tablets
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dose/day: 2 tablets once per day
- Dietary considerations: Hypoallergenic, vegan, gluten-free,
- Clinical studies using the final formulation: No
- Multispecies/ multistrain: Yes
7. RMS Beauty Within Probiotic + Prebiotic
RMS developed a line of living-ingredient-based products and brought together raw, food-grade, and organic ingredients in their beauty products. The newly released RMS Beauty Within Probiotic + Prebiotic is a multistrain blend that may support a healthy gut. It’s formulated with 25 billion CFU per serving and is marketed as a delayed-release capsule. RMS promotes a manufacturing process that avoids heating their probiotics to high temperatures to ensure they remain intact.
- Type: capsules
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dose/day: 1 capsule two times a day
- Dietary considerations: Vegan
- Clinical studies using the final formulation: No
- Multispecies/ multistrain: Yes
8. Seed Synbiotic
This probiotic is designed to offer whole-body benefits to all adults. It has 24 probiotic strains and comes in a capsule. The unique aspect of this supplement is it contains a prebiotic outer capsule.
Seed Synbiotic suggests that their ViaCap technology ensures the bacteria survive and stay viable through digestion. In addition to their survivability standard, they also say they do extensive lab testing of the manufacturing process, with over 50 quality control checkpoints. They also have a board consisting of clinical researchers who review their products.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 2 capsules 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
- Multispecies/ multistrain: Yes
9. 1MD Nutrition BiomeMD
BiomeMD is a digestive care supplement that claims to improve the health and function of your digestive system and immune system. The formulation includes 15 probiotic strains and three prebiotics. Two of their probiotics are trademarked, which is related to either their manufacturing method or a new way of preserving the bacteria.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 1 capsule per day with food containing fiber and a full glass of water
- Dietary Considerations: dairy-free
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
- Multispecies/ multistrain: Yes
10. Nue Co Prebiotic + Probiotic
Nue Co Prebiotic + Probiotic is unique because instead of using live strains of probiotics, they use spore-based bacteria.
Unlike live strains, spores are dormant until activated in your small intestine. With that said, spore-based bacteria are often obtained from the soil and do not naturally live in the human intestine. Not all strains may be effective in your gut microbiome.
Nue Co uses Bacillus Coagulans, which has been shown to help those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The prebiotic element is made from inulin from organic Jerusalem artichoke. The pouches are made from recycled plastics, and the brand is very environmentally conscious and says it uses sustainably sourced ingredients.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 2 capsules per day with water
- Dietary Considerations: vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, GMO-free
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
- Multispecies/ multistrain: No
11. Mary Ruth Complete Gut Health
Here’s a blend of 5 non-specific strains of bacteria. It’s geared toward any age and gender to support gut health, digestion, and immune health. The prebiotic in their proprietary blend can help provide the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, which supports the integrity of the gut lining.
Mary Ruth’s probiotic supplements are well-trusted in the marketplace because of their manufacturing process and lack of additives. The specific strains included in this capsule have been clinically reviewed. Yet, there is a lack of clinical studies on the final formulation of their probiotic blends.
- Type: Capsule
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: 2 capsules per day with water
- Dietary Considerations: Non-GMO, vegan, dairy-free, nut-free, no added sugar
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
- Multispecies/ multistrain: No
13. OLLY Probiotic+Prebiotic
This gummy probiotic + prebiotic comes from Olly, a very familiar supplement company. The supplement includes a dose of 500m Bacillus Coagulans and prebiotic fiber. Olly’s gummies have been NSF certified, which means the manufacturing process has been independently tested for certain quality, safety, and label claims.
Although there are some pros to gummies, such as being easier to consume, there are some cons to consider. Independent analyses of gummy vitamins, in general, have found that many brands do not contain all of the nutrients they claim, or they may have too many of specific vitamins.
Since they are harder to manufacture than capsules, it makes it harder to ensure they contain actual amounts of each ingredient. Gummy supplements also tend to lose their potency more quickly than pills.
- Type: Gummy
- Storage: Shelf-stable
- Dosage: chew one gummy daily
- Dietary Considerations: gluten-free
- Clinical Studies Using the Final Formulation: No
- Multispecies/ multistrain: No
Why Take Prebiotics and Probiotics Together?
Consuming a combination of prebiotics and probiotics can help you create a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut. A diverse microbiome can help you stay healthier. The more species of bacteria you have in your gut, the more health benefits you may get from them.
Taking prebiotics with probiotics causes a beneficial synbiotic effect.
Synbiotics are a mixture of microorganisms and substrates selectively chosen for their health benefits. Complementary synbiotics are when the prebiotic and probiotic components work independently to produce health benefits. Synergistic synbiotics are when the probiotics and prebiotics substrates work together to achieve health benefits for the host. Since synbiotics are not limited to your gut, they can target other areas of your body, such as your skin.
Health benefits of probiotics include:
- Regular digestion
- Weight management
- Balanced mood
- Fewer infections
- Better skin
- Renewed energy levels
- Allergy support
As we mentioned earlier, combination supplements usually come with enough prebiotic fiber to give the probiotic bacteria a head start as they make their way to the digestive system. To get the maximum synbiotic effect, you should increase your dietary fiber intake to support the beneficial bacteria in your gut.
A recent survey showed that over 90% of Americans do not meet the recommended daily dose of fiber. To properly support the bacteria in your gut, you can eat high-fiber food such as asparagus, bananas, and beans or by taking a dedicated prebiotic supplement like Omni-Logic Immune or Omni-Logic Plus.
Tips for Choosing a Prebiotic and Probiotic Combination
Choosing the right prebiotic and probiotic combination is essential for safety and effectiveness.
First, review the ingredients to ensure the supplement contains prebiotics. When you’re looking for this combination, you’ll likely need to do a little research, as prebiotics are listed as their actual ingredient and not by the name “prebiotic.” Common prebiotics are inulin, Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS).
Then, choose the type of probiotic by thinking about your specific health goals that you’re looking to achieve by taking a supplement. Since probiotic bacteria have different functions, you’ll want to choose the probiotic that targets your specific goal.
Multistrain, multispecies supplements often provide more benefits than just one strain. Yet, you may find combining too many strains can compromise the efficacy of the strains that compete with each other.
Also, look at the science and clinical studies associated with the product and company. There should be evidence that they have evaluated the probiotic strains.
In addition, the supplement packaging and the distribution process can affect the supplement. Probiotics can die if they’re not properly stored. Look for a company that has studied its delivery process to ensure the probiotics you’re taking are alive. Omni-Biotic products have been explicitly designed to protect the organism until it gets to its home in the lower intestine, where they are most beneficial.
You should also consider the delivery mechanism that the supplement uses.If the probiotic bacteria cannot make it to your gut alive, there is no benefit from taking the supplement.
Omni-Biotic’s unique delivery mechanism allows probiotic bacteria to begin metabolizing prebiotic nutrients as soon as they are activated in water before taking the supplement. This increases their survivability for their journey through the acidic environment of the upper GI tract.
Final Thoughts
Your diet has a substantial impact on your overall health. An unhealthy gut can lead to symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, heartburn and acid reflux, bloating, and other health issues. Since the prebiotic fibers feed and strengthen probiotic bacteria, taking prebiotics and probiotics together can support your overall digestive health.
If you’re still looking for the best probiotic for you, this short quiz can help guide you to a probiotic formulation that may help you reach your health goals.
