Customer Reviews

Jarrow Formulas Bile Acid Factors, 90 Capsules

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm nearly through my third bottle of 90 capsules of Bile Acid Factors (BAF). I will continue to purchase and use this product.

I have a similar story as others. I had my gall bladder removed a year and a half ago and for 9 months afterwards I was symptom free - I felt great! Around nine months ago, symptoms of constipation and bloating returned. I was familiar with these symptoms having suffered them often just before my g-b surgery. After a little bit of internet research spurred by my growing discomfort, I found that I probably needed supplemental bile salts or bile acids. I immediately went to the local vitamin/supplement store and found a product called Superzymes (easy to find with a Google search). It has 260mg of ox bile extract with a two pill dose. It has other stuff in it too, but I'm focusing on the BILE. The first few days I took 10-14 of these Superzymes per day (with meals and sometimes between meals, always two at a time). Slowly, I started to feel a little better as the constipation and bloating improved some. However, I soon realized I needed something stronger so I ordered a bottle of Bile Acid Factors, 90 count of 333mg each capsule. After about two weeks of varying the doses of BAF and Superzymes (trial & error) I found a regular dosing schedule that works great. Two Superzymes immediately after finishing a light breakfast. I take one BAF pill during lunch. Then I'll again have two Superzymes just after finishing dinner. Usually that's all I need for the day.
I've become very regular and symptom free! Early on taking the supplements, I was feeling so good, I cut back on the supplements thinking I didn't need as many. Bad move, symptoms return like clockwork. When I realized I need them with or after every meal, it took about a week to begin feeling good again. Thus, if I eat a "sensible" meal with not that much fat, I just take the two Superzymes. If I have something tasty, perhaps a little more fatty, I take the Bile Acid Factor capsule. It works!
I ordered a product called Ox Bile, a 500mg bile acid supplement. I found them to be somewhat stronger than the BAF, but still very effective. I will still take one on occasion when I have a large and fatty meal or if I'm feeling "behind" in my own bile production.

Like others, I had my gallbladder removed. However, unlike others I haven't had diarrhea. I actually have an under-active liver. So, I have a hard time digesting food. I get constipated a lot, etc, etc. I noticed as time went on that not having a gallbladder not only means having a harder time digesting fats, but it also means your body can't flush itself like it can when you have a gallbladder. You see, bile acts as a huge digestive and laxative. When your gallbaldder would store it, you'd eat a fatty meal, and a huge rush of bile would dump out, basically acting like a detox/flush for your digestive system. With your gallbladder out, you get a constant trickle going into your digestive tract, but you don't get the huge flush like you used to. Over time, I've noticed my brain gets foggy, eyes aren't as sharp, etc, etc. Part of this I think is because the bile flush used to keep digestive bacteria (friendly probiotics) in check, but without it they tend to get out of control. If I eat fermented foods like Kimchee, yogurt, sauerkraut, I get really foggy headed, where-as other folks feel great. I tired Cholacol first, and had success with it helping me digest fat-solulable vitamins as well as flushing my digestive system. But cholacol is mostly bile-stimulating herbs. So, I tried pure bile salts (this product), but didn't notice much difference. I'm going to try both bile salts and cholacol at the same time ... maybe they work synergistically (better when both used at once). Anyone who's had their gallbladder removed (which it seems docs jump at the chance to do so), I highly recommend you get a bile acid supplement. You don't realize the major impact it will have until years down the road you're suffering from fat-solulable & essential fatty acid deficiency and your digestive tract is in dysbiosys since friendly bacteria have swarmed.

I purchased these on the advice of my Chiropractor and took them approximately 3 times before I realized that the strange burping I was having was caused by these! I have since switched to a plant based digestive enzyme that has no disgusting side effects. I do not recommend this product.

Vitamins, minerals, calcium and food supplements are great and necessary for the body. Few do you ever say make such a difference. A few years ago I had my gaulbladder removed. Since then I have had trouble with digestion. Bloating and discomfort after eating many foods I had no trouble with in the past. After reading about bile salts or bile acid I ordered a bottle and started taking them before each meal. It immediately made a big difference. No more bloating and discomfort. I lost 14 pounds in two weeks. I feel wonderful again.

I'm unsure of what my complete needs are in terms of bile salts now that I no longer have a gallbladder. I certainly have not experienced adverse effects, and I do believe this product is helping me to digest my food better. I will chime in again when I place a second order for the product. I'd like to give it 3 months before I state the degree to which I think it's helping. I feel a bit less bloated than I was when I ordered the product in complete desperation. In fact my waist size may have gone down by an inch, which is quite thrilling considering the misery I was in prior to taking the supplement. I would greatly appreciate hearing from anyone who has had their gallbladder removed, to compare notes on post-surgical bloating and weight gain. We can beat this! Thanks very much.

I have to agree with another reviewer here; this product makes me burp an unpleasant taste. It also gives me heartburn that I don't have when I don't take it. And that's at taking on ONE pill with a meal, not the THREE pill serving size suggested by the label!

I haven't had it long enough to state whether it helps with digestion without a gallbladder. I have had it long enough to know the indigestion is less unpleasant than this cure.

I'm going to have to either figure out how to take it so these things don't happen or continue searching for a bile salt product that doesn't cause these problems. Bummer.

I had my gall bladder out two years ago, and this is the only supplement that has made a difference. I only take one with or soon after dinner, but I feel a big difference in my internal workings ;). I first bought it at a suppliment store, but AZ is half their price so I order it here now. If you need a digestive aid you should try this one--I was feeling really yucky on my other supplements but now I feel great!

I still haven't received this product but have used it before and it helps me out a lot!