WHAT IS ACTIVIA PROBIOTIC YOGURT?

By Probiotics Expert: Dr. Raga

What is activia probiotic yogurt?

Activia is one of the biggest brands of probiotic in the market nowadays.

This probiotic yogurt brand contains Bifidus Regularis, which is a friendly bacteria that naturally maintains the balance of the digestive system.

It claims to have significant effects on the improvement of slowed digestive transit.

What’s in activia probiotic yogurt?

Bifidus Regularis-This is the marketing name

given to the probiotic strain, Bifidobacterium lactis, that was used for the activia yogurt.

-It is an active probiotic culture that can survive its passage through the digestive tract while maintaining sufficient number of live probiotics.

-Activia is the only probiotic yogurt in the world which contains Bifidus Regularis.

Claims on the roles played by activia probiotic yogurt in the body

Helps the digestive system to function in optimal state

Promotes improvement of digestive transit which is slowed

Regulates the gastrointestinal environment

Presented Clinical studies on activia probiotic yogurt

1. Studies which show the ability of Bifidus Regularis to survive passage along the intestinal tract

The B. Lactis that is included in activia has been discovered to last up to 90 minutes at the stomach.

The amount of B. Lactis stays the same from the point it enters the mouth up to the moment it exits through feces.

Presented Clinical studies on activia probiotic yogurt

2. Clinical studies on activia’s claims of benefits for occasional regularity

In a blind crossover study from Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, researchers found out that the intake of yogurt with Bifidus strain can significantly improve digestive transit time which is usually 40 hours or more in women.

Four clinical trials have shown that transit time for digestion can be improved with dairy products containing Bifidus strain.

Presented Clinical studies on activia probiotic yogurt

A clinical trial wherein 72 volunteers (36 females and 36 males) are given fermented milk with B. Lactis have statistically significant improved colonic transit time of 20.6 % and sigmoid transit time of 38.9%. In this trial, results are more prominent in the female volunteers.

In other studies, activia has been proven to be effective when taken thrice a day for two weeks.

However, there is a contradicting study wherein 19 out of 267 patients had no reported changes in the quantity, consistency, or frequency of stools.

Presented Clinical studies on activia probiotic yogurt

3. Clinical trial for improved symptoms caused by irritable bowel syndrome

According to a randomized controlled study, 267 people, who have been experiencing constipation caused by IBS, have reported more frequent bowel movements as well as lesser instances of bloating and abdominal discomfort. This is due to the two 4oz activia servings per day that they consumed. These significant results occurred after 3-6 weeks of activia usage compared to those who consumed yogurt which has been heat-treated.

Presented Clinical studies on activia probiotic yogurt

4. Research on activia’s impact on gastrointestinal well-being

There have been a crossover, double blind, randomized trial which studies activia’s effect on the digestive symptoms, gastrointestinal well-being, and health-related quality of life among women.

There are 240 women who were recruited for the study. These women have a weight range of (BMI, 18–30kg/m2) , a broad age range (ages 18–60 years), and bowel frequency (3–21 stools per week) who have minor digestive disorders and were typical consumers of dairy product.

Presented Clinical studies on activia probiotic yogurt

In the end of the study, significant results in gastrointestinal well-being and stool consistency were observed to be higher in women who have consumed activia than those who did not (control group.)

Controversies surrounding activia probiotic yogurt

In the years 2008-2010, when activia is just starting all the hype for probiotics yogurt, several lawsuits have been filed against the company behind its advertising. The lawsuits are pressed against the company for its misleading and exaggerated advertisements about the health benefits of the product when in truth, it doesn’t really have backup studies to prove them.

My Favorite Probiotic Probacto is the best probiotic that I have ever

run into. They use multiple strains and they are spore forming so they can last while not refrigerated. They do not use cheap bacteria, but expensive ones such as B. Subtilis.

Probacto also contains prebiotics to help stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut.

Probacto contains digestive enzymes to assist in your digestion.

Probacto is enteric coated and made to be slow release so it will release in your gut gradually.

Conclusion

Despite the controversies surrounding the activia probiotic yogurt, it is still one of the biggest names in probiotics yogurt market. Additionally, there have been no dangerous effects which are associated with it. So, giving it a try would not probably cause harm. However, more studies should be conducted to establish proof for the claims of the activia probiotic yogurt.