July 29, 2015

 Probiotic Essentials:  Factors of stability

By nature of these cultures, the choices of strains and carriers, manufacturing procedures, handling of materials and storage are all critical to the viability of the end product. Joe DiMatteo starts by using culture strains that have the most recognized history of beneficial use – Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. They can not justify the use of less potent strains, and certainly not use those which, although retaining activity, are not beneficial to human gut terrain, like Faecium.

They have incorporated a proprietary process of stabilization to protect the culture cell walls. They then chose to use a patented Microcrystalline Cellulose carrier to make the effects of moisture as negligible as possible on our culture.

They require controlled environments in the production of raw materials and encapsulation, ensuring that the active culture levels will remain viable. This control is not only to safe guard against moisture levels, but temperature as well. “The cooler the better” is still the rule. There has been a lot written about new technologies that allow products to retail their activity at room temperature. While there might be evidence to support further research in this technology, the end result is not a reality today. Even if there were a wrap an impenetrable shield around these cultures, making it impossible for moisture to affect them in any way, they would still be damaged by the heat of sitting on a shelf.

One other manufacturing decision was to guarantee label claim. While other companies publish C.F.U. numbers on their labels that relate to the amount of culture at time of manufacturing, the label claim what our customers should expect to see through the life of the product. Their raw material is produced allows for natural degradation. With choice of strains, carrier, bottle type, stability testing and proper handling, they have gone a long way to ensured that at the time of last dosage, their product should still beat label claim.

So…If our standards are not met at the time of manufacturing, we MUST go back to the beginning and start again.  This is to ensure the high quality product that you expect.

As always,

Be well,

Diane Silverman R.Ph.
Ask The Pharmacist Group, LLC