Customer Reviews

Nature's Way Primadophilus Optima, 60 Vcaps

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

After experiencing some serious gastrointestinal problems, I was referred to a GI specialist. He took cultures and ordered a colonoscopy. There was inflammation and significant scarring. The culture revealed I was hosting a pretty nasty organism. The doctor warned me that after taking the prescribed antibiotics I might have to face chronic symptoms for the rest of my life. Being nutritionally oriented I asked whether there were any changes I might adopt in diet or supplemented nutrients. As a casual afterthought he suggested that probiotics couldn't hurt and that they sometimes provide beneficial effects.

I found these reuteri capsules in my local health store. I was impressed by the claim that clinical tests showed that reuteri aided in the growth of villi. I reasoned that this might also mean the organism might also assist in other beneficial healing processes. I started taking this reuteri together with more commonly available capsules containing bifidus, lactobaccillus, etc. My goal was to ensure I was getting a diversity of probiotics. The reuteri is not broadly available but the other organisms can easily be obtained in health stores and online sources. I made sure to take these capsules in combination nightly on an empty stomach with water close to bedtime. My reasoning is that the organisms could cultivate overnight in my GI tract with a minimum of conflict with food.

When I returned for a follow up colonoscopy six months later, my doctor may not have been startled-- he's not given to hyperbole-- but he certainly delivered encouraging news. All the scarring and inflammation were gone and my colon showed a healthy coloration and consistency. There was no evidence left behind.

I have just done further online research for a friend with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Evidently reuteri seem to also have a beneficial effect on allergic tendencies and inflammation. This likely explains some of the improvement in my intestinal tract.

I attribute my successful healing to the probiotics and to the reuteri organism in particular. Strongly recommended.

This Primadophilus Optima has the strongest count of good bacteria that I've been able to find. I use a full capsule as a starter for yogurt. It makes delicious yogurt in the Salton Yogurt maker.

5/13/10 I am amending this review because the latest batch I received was not refrigerated when I inquired with Amazon, therefore it loses its potency and makes this a waste of money. Not Nature's Way's fault as they aren't selling it here. Don't buy unless you are certain the vendor is refrigerating it. According to Nature's Way the product should be refrigerated by the seller and in this case the vendors here are NOT refrigerating it. I would NOT recommend buying this. According to Nature's Way, "Primadophilus can be out of refrigeration for a few days without losing the potency. We add extra cultures to allow for the product to be out of refrigeration for shipping and manufacturing. But for long term storage in order to hold the potency the product should be stored in the refrigerator."

That being said, do NOT buy this expensive probiotic unless you are certain its potency is assured. I love the probiotic but will only purchase from iherb now as they assure that it is refrigerated and I've had good luck with them.

Also, Amazon's customer service was excellent in this matter and they took care of this for me...

I have been using this product for 5 years for my Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome. This product has reduced pains, bloating and flatulance for me. I wouldn't hesitate a second to rate the old version of this product with 5 stars. It was a real good help to me. However, now after they added the FOS I can not tolerate the product any more. Now the product GIVES me pain and gas in stead. So either if I quit or if I continue I am lost. If there are more of you who agree with me, please email them or call them (Nature's way). I have allready done that 2 times. I don't know what to do. This is like taking away the heart medicine from a heart sick patient. :(

I took these probiotics for nearly a year discovering the enteric coating they use contains toxic phthalates--a plasticizer which is linked to cancers, endorcine disruption, hormonal abnormalities, infertility, and obesity.

If you research phthalates online, you'll discover the risks. Nature's Way uses this phthalate-based coating as a gimmick to say it dissolves better, but at what price? Whatever benefits are accruing from the bacterial cultures are undone by the massive health risks from the coating.

These same phthalate placticizers are banned in Europe for use in children's toys. Why would you want to eat plastic with your pills?

Please don't make my mistake. Avoid this product at all costs. Nature's Way clearly doesn't care about the health of their customers. There are many safer probiotics that don't contain enteric coating--which isn't even necessary to begin with. The small intestine and stomach won't destroy the bacterial cultures. The use enteric coating is just marketing hype in a toxic chemical form.

If you're taking probiotics to address a condition, I recommend this probiotic. It's one of the most highly charged probiotic supplements on the market, contains one of the widest array of healthy bacteria available, and is approved for authenticity by Consumer Labs. If you're looking for a probiotic for routine maintenance of digestion sytstem health, you might try to find a probiotic with about 10 billion CFUs rather than Primodophilus Optima which contains 35 billion CFUs.

update: Jan 12, 2010 I got an email from amazon.com that my subscribe and save on Primadophilius Optima is canceled because they will not carry it anymore :-(. Called Nature's Way, the manufacture, and they plan to continue making the product. Highly recommend those who love this product to contact amazon.com on your opinion. Amazon has the lowest price and highest quality.

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Decided to get probiotics to help my digestion, and choose Primadophilus Optima because it has 14 different strains and 35 billion CFU, more variety and quantity than most yogurt (danon (2-3), stoneyfield (6)...etc). Lifeway's Kefir has 12 strains 7-10 billion CFU, but I don't like the kefir taste. There are a lot of overlap of probiotic types between Lifeway and Primadophilus Optima.

Bought "Primadophilus Optima" 60 vcaps on Jan 2011 from amazon, arrived promply, with expiration date of Jun 2012. Verify that probiotic is good by breaking open capsule, and stiring the power into a cup of milk. Curd after 8 hours at 70F room temperature. Very satify. Will buy again :-)

Lifeway's Kefier (7-10 billion CFU) from their website:
* Lactobacillius Lactis
* Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
* Streptococcus Diacetylactis
* Lactobacillus Plantarum
* Lactobacillius Casei
* Saccharomyces Florentinus
* Leuconostoc Cremoris
* Bifidobacterium Longum
* Bifidobacterium Breve
* Lactobacillus Acidophilus
* Bifidobacterium lactis HN019
* Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM

Stoneyfield yogurt, from their website:
* Lactobacillus bulgaricus
* Streptococcus thermophilus
* Lactobacillus acidophilus
* Bifidus
* Lactobacillus casei
* Lactobacillus rhamnosus

Danon Activa
* Bifidus Regularis® Bifidobacterium lactis DN-173 010 (Patented)
* 2-3 others...

Primadophilus® Optima
L. casei-108; B. longum-135; L. acidophilus-122; L. plantarum-119; L. rhamnosus-111; L. rhamnosus-114; B. breve-129; B. bifidum-132; L. lactis-136; S. thermophilus-110; B. infantis-116; L. bulgaricus-137; L. salivarius-118; L. helveticus-128

Convenient, nearly 50% cheaper than what I was paying at my local store. Shipped for free, and arrived promptly. Placing my 2nd order today. I was advised to take these by my Gastroenterologist for IBS. They seem to be making a difference, and much cheaper than FloraQ and brand is rated high.

I have been using this product for a year or more now and I really like it. It doesn't cure IBS but as someone who takes a single dose antibiotic once a week it keeps me from getting yeast infections and upset stomach. I have tried many brands and this one is not only good replenishing the bacteria in the intestinal tract but is known for also keeping yeast and other womens bacterial issues at bay. There have been numerous articles and studies regarding the effectiveness of reuteri. I will probably never stop taking it.

I have been taking these 6 weeks now and I no longer have gas or diahreah.

That tells me its really working. I have had Chrohn's for 10 years now.

Before and during being diagnosed with Gluten intolerance this product helped me a lot. Going Gluten free has made the most difference of all but I still take Primadophilus Optima. Highly recommended.