Reviews and Information for Prebiotics
Prebiotics
You can't easily tell how much prebiotic fiber is actually in a prebiotic supplement -- ConsumerLab found it could be as little as 26% of what's labeled. Find out how much fiber ConsumerLab found in supplements, which one ConsumerLab considers best, and learn what prebiotics can and can't do, as well as their side effects.
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Product Review
Probiotic Supplements Review (Including Pet Probiotics)
See What's Really in Probiotics and Our Top Picks

Product Review
Fruits, Veggies, and Other Greens Supplements Review (Including Spirulina and Chlorella)
Avoid Lead in Greens, Problems with Pills, and Don't Give Up Eating Whole Foods.

CL Answer
I developed a rash soon after starting a probiotic. Is it possible to be allergic to probiotics?
Find out if probiotics can cause allergic reactions, including skin rashes, and why.

CL Answer
Are Hormone Harmony and other Happy Mammoth Supplements Worth Taking?
Are the supplements Hormone Harmony, Hormone Harmony Plus+, Prebiotic Collagen Protein, or Bloat Banisher by Happy Mammoth likely to be beneficial for menopause symptoms or digestive health? Find out.

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Does yacon syrup decrease appetite or help with weight loss? How do I find a quality brand?
Can yacon syrup can help with weight loss? Learn more, including clinical evidence, side effects, and dosage.

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ConsumerLab’s Review of ION* Gut Support
ConsumerLab's Review of ION Gut Support (formerly Restore), the liquid humic extract supplement derived from soil. Learn about the evidence for ION Gut Support for on digestion and gut health, reducing inflammation, and other uses, dosage, cost, and safety.

CL Answer
Dandelion Tea & Supplements: Health Benefits and Safety
Find out about the potential health benefits of dandelion tea and supplements, as well as safety, side effects, and potential drug interactions.

CL Answer
Do any supplements help for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
IBS supplements may help reduce irritable bowel symptoms such as pain, diarrhea and constipation. Supplements include probiotics, melatonin, and flaxseed.

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What are the best supplements for depression and anxiety?
Best natural supplements for depression and anxiety, including the evidence for fish oil, vitamin D, probiotics, and herbal supplements for depression such as curcumin (from turmeric) and saffron.

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What are the benefits of Daily Synbiotic by Seed Health? Does it do what it claims, and is it better than other probiotics and prebiotics?
Review of Daily Synbiotic by Seed, including information about the prebiotic and probiotic strains in the supplement, and whether there is evidence of benefit for the synbiotic.

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How does Athletic Greens’ AG1 compare to multivitamins and Greens powders? Is AG1 worth it?
ConsumerLab reviews the ingredients in AG1, its safety and possible side effects, and how AG1 compares to other products.

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Which supplements and foods help relieve constipation and which can cause constipation?
Find out which supplements can cause constipation, including iron, calcium, protein powders and drinks and others. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

Recalls & Warnings
March 10, 2025
Probiotics and Prebiotic Gummies Recalled
On January 17, 2025, Health and Happiness (H&H) LLC.
CL Answer
Are gummy vitamins better or worse than pills?
Learn more about gummy supplements, including those for multivitamins, vitamins C and D, calcium, and B vitamins.

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Do any supplements or foods help with migraine? Do any trigger migraine?
Find out if supplements such as magnesium, CoQ10, riboflavin, butterbur, feverfew and others help with migraine. Also learn about foods that may trigger migraine, including chocolate and watermelon.

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Do any supplements help prevent or treat a cold?
Are there supplements that can help prevent or treat cold symptoms? Learn more about zinc, probiotics, vitamin C and more.

News Release
February 26, 2025
ConsumerLab Survey Shows 21 Most Popular Vitamins and Supplements
White Plains, New York, February 26, 2025 — A recent survey of more than 8,400 people who regularly use dietary supplements shows that among the 212 most popular supplements, those that experienced the greatest absolute growth in popularity during 2024 were biotin (+9.
News Release
February 26, 2024
Latest ConsumerLab Survey Shows Growth in Popularity of Magnesium and Several Smaller Supplements
White Plains, New York, February 26, 2024 — A recent survey of more than 10,000 people who regularly use dietary supplements shows that supplements that experienced the greatest absolute growth in popularity during 2023 were pregnenolone (+7.5 percentage points), magnesium (+4.8 pts), berberine (+4.
Recalls & Warnings
April 04, 2025
Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Chocolate Bars Recalled
On April 1, 2025, Tony’s Chocolonely Inc. recalled seven lots of its Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt Bar and Everything Bar due to the potential presence of small stones.
CL Answer
Which supplements and foods can help lower or control blood sugar?
Find out which supplements can help lower or control blood sugar. Supplements including turmeric/curcumin, fiber, cinnamon, and ginseng are believed to help lower blood sugar.

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Which supplements and lifestyle changes improve sleep, and which cause insomnia?
Find out which vitamins may help you sleep and learn if any vitamins or supplements can cause insomnia.

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Do any supplements help with fatty liver disease? Are some diets more beneficial than others?
Find out if supplements such as vitamin E, fish oil, milk thistle, curcumin, choline, probiotics, vitamin D, reishi mushroom, or extra virgin olive oil are beneficial for fatty liver disease and learn which diet (Mediterranean, ketogenic, DASH, or fasting diets) seems to have greatest benefit.

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Do any supplements naturally suppress appetite and help with weight loss?
Learn which natural ingredients can suppress appetite and find if these natural appetite suppressants help with weight loss.

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Do sea moss and carrageenan have health benefits? Are there risks?
Sea moss is promoted for thyroid health, boosting immunity, improving gut health, and other uses. Find out if it works and learn about possible side effects of sea moss and its constituent, carrageenan.

CL Answer
What are the health effects of turkey tail mushroom and is it safe?
Learn about the possible health effects of turkey tail mushroom, including its use as adjuvant treatment for cancer and for boosting immune function, plus get information about possible side effects and find out why ConsumerLab has not yet tested turkey tail products.

CL Answer
Butyrate Supplements for Gut Health: Does butyric acid really work and is it safe?
Can butyrate supplements improve gut health or help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn's disease? Find out what the clinical evidence shows, learn about the different forms of butyrate, including sodium butyrate, calcium-magnesium butyrate, and tributyrate, and get details about products such as BodyBio Sodium Butyrate and Healus Complete Biotic Tributyrin, dosage, safety and cost.

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Sugar Substitutes: Pros, Cons, and Best Choices
Learn about the pros and cons of using sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners in place of table sugar. Sweeteners discussed include stevia, monk fruit, and other high-intensity sweeteners; xylitol, erythritol, allulose and other low-calorie sweeteners; and agave syrup, black sugar, coconut sugar, honey, molasses and other sugar alternatives.

Recalls & Warnings
January 26, 2023
Allergy Bee Nasal Swabs Contaminated With Illness-Causing Bacteria
On January 18, 2023, the FDA issued a warning letter to Buzzagogo, LLC, after the company’s Allergy Bee Gone for Kids nasal swab products were found to be contaminated with bacteria that have the potential to cause life-threatening illness.
News Release
November 10, 2022
Best Probiotic Supplements Identified by ConsumerLab Tests
White Plains, New York, November 10, 2022 — Probiotic supplements can be helpful in preventing or treating constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, vaginal infections, and other conditions, but with so many different products on the market, choosing the best one is no easy task.
CL Answer
Can white kidney bean extract lower blood sugar or help me lose weight?
Does white kidney bean extract help promote weight loss? Find out more including evidence from clinical studies and dosage.

CL Answer
Do any supplements, foods or lifestyle modifications help with brain function, like memory and cognition?
Find out which supplements help improve memory, brain function and cognition, including fish oil, some B vitamins, cocoa, and curcumin. ConsumerLab's answer explains the evidence for supplements promoted to help with brain function and cognition.

Recalls & Warnings
January 04, 2024
Lone Star Botanicals Warned by FDA for Manufacturing Violations
On November 26, 2023, the FDA issued a Warning Letter to Lone Star Botanicals, Inc.
CL Answer
What are the health benefits of green tea, and is it safe?
ConsumerLab explains green tea's potential health benefits for everything from fighting cancer to helping your heart.

CL Answer
Do probiotics need to be refrigerated?
Refrigerating certain probiotic pills and other probiotic supplements is important. Get tips on how to store probiotics properly.

CL Answer
Is it true that low-carb or Mediterranean diets help for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?
Find out if a low-carb diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, or lifestyle changes help with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

CL Answer
Does Provitalize work for weight loss and is it safe?
Find out if taking Provitalize, a probiotic supplement that also contains turmeric extract, moringa leaf extract, curry leaf extract and piperine (BioPerine), relieves joint pain, decreases abdominal fat, or helps with weight loss.

Recalls & Warnings
January 06, 2025
ZOE Prebiotic Blend Recalled Due to Metal Pieces, Stones
On December 4, 2024, Zoe US, Inc. recalled 142 units of ZOE Daily 30+ Prebiotic blend because it may contain foreign objects such as small metal pieces and/or stones.
Recalls & Warnings
September 07, 2012
Prebiotics Recalled For Salmonella Risk
On September 4, 2012, Eco Health, Inc. announced a recall of its florAlign Prebiotic Formula (Powder) due to the potential for the product to be contaminated with Salmonella.
Recalls & Warnings
July 10, 2021
FDA Warns Seller of Omega XL
On June 31, 2021 the FDA issued a warning letter to Great Healthworks, Inc. following a review of the company's website, which found statements made about Omega XL and ProbioticXL supplements to be drug claims.
Recalls & Warnings
November 10, 2020
FDA Warns Seller of Digestive Enzymes, Nattokinase, and More
On October 27, 2020, the FDA issued a warning letter to World Nutrition, Inc.
Recalls & Warnings
April 29, 2020
Benefiber Prebiotic Fiber Supplements Recalled Due to Possible Plastic Contamination
On April 28, 2020, GSK Consumer Healthcare recalled one lot of Benefiber Healthy Shape Prebiotic Fiber Supplement powder and four lots of Benefiber Prebiotic Fiber Supplement powder because they have the potential to be contaminated with green plastic pieces or shavings from bottle ...
News Release
October 28, 2022
Labels on Prebiotic Supplements Are Often Unreliable, Tests Show
White Plains, New York, October 28, 2022 — Prebiotic supplements provide fiber that feed beneficial bacteria in the gut. However, recent ConsumerLab tests show that consumers often can’t rely on labels to know how much prebiotic fiber is really in products.
Recalls & Warnings
November 01, 2013
Protein Shakes Containing Prescription Drug Pose Serious Health Risk
On November 1, 2013, Health Canada warned consumers that Vega One Vanilla Chai (sizes 437g and 874g) and Vega Sport Performance Chocolate nutritional shakes, by Sequel Naturals Ltd., have been found to contain the prescription antibiotic chloramphenicol.
Recalls & Warnings
October 11, 2013
Prebiotic and Digestive Enzyme Supplement Recalled Due To Drug Risk
On October 10, 2013, Adeeva Nutritionals Inc. issued a voluntary recall of digestive supplement Flora Essentials due to potential contamination with the prescription antibiotic chloramphenicol.
Recalls & Warnings
July 06, 2018
Prescript-Assist Probiotic Recall Expanded
On July 6, 2018, LL's Magnetic Clay, Inc., expanded its original recall of Prescript-Assist, a "broad spectrum probiotic and prebiotic" supplement, because it may contain undeclared almonds, crustaceans, dairy, casein, eggs, and peanuts.
Recalls & Warnings
June 29, 2018
Prescript-Assist Probiotic Recalled
On June 29, 2018, LL's Magnetic Clay, Inc., issued a recall of certain lots of Prescript-Assist, a "broad spectrum probiotic and prebiotic" supplement, because they may contain undeclared almonds, crustaceans, dairy, casein, eggs, and peanuts.
News Release
February 24, 2017
Vitamin D Supplements Maintain Top Spot in Popularity, as Probiotics Surpass Multivitamins to #4 Behind Fish Oil and CoQ10 in Latest ConsumerLab.com Survey
White Plains, New York, February 24, 2017 — A recent survey of over 9,505 people who use dietary supplements shows the most popular dietary supplement to be vitamin D, followed by fish oil, CoQ10, probiotics, and multivitamins.
Recalls & Warnings
July 10, 2012
Children's Probiotics Recalled Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
On July 9, 2012, Sedona Labs announced the voluntary recall of certain lots of iFlora Kids Multi-Probiotic and iFlora 4-Kids Powder distributed between 3/16/2011 and 5/3/2012 due to potential contamination with Salmonella.
Recalls & Warnings
October 12, 2013
Metagenics Enzyme Supplement Recalled Due To Drug Risk
On October 11, 2013, Metagenics Canada issued a voluntary recall of digestive enzyme supplement Spectrazyme, due to potential contamination with the prescription antibiotic chloramphenicol.