Choosing a Microbiotic
Seven formulas, and the differences between them are specific rather than a matter of strength. Here is the whole range in one place.
| Formula | Guaranteed at expiry | At manufacture | Strains | Bifidobacterium | Format | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super 8 Gold | 61 billion | 102 billion | 8 | 80% | Capsule | Adults & children 4+ |
| Super 8 Immune | 31 billion | 42 billion | 8 | 9% | Capsule | Adults |
| Adult 50+ | 20 billion | 34 billion | 7 | 30% | Capsule | Adults 50+ |
| Adult's Blend | 10 billion | 17 billion | 6 | 10% | Capsule | Adults 15+ |
| Children's Blend | 3 billion | 5 billion | 7 | 10% | Capsule (can be opened) | Ages 5–15 |
| Babies & Toddler's Blend | 1.7 billion | 3 billion | 6 | 25% | Powder | Up to age 5 |
| Super 5's | 1 billion | 2 billion | 5 | 15% | Raspberry lozenge | Adults & children |
Read the expiry figure, not the manufacture figure
Live cultures decline over the life of a product. Two numbers can therefore be quoted: the count on the day it was made, and the count still guaranteed on the last day of shelf life.
We publish both for every formula. The expiry figure is the one worth comparing — it is what is actually in the capsule when you take it. Where a label gives only one number without saying which, it is usually the higher one.
The two Super 8s are near mirror images
They are not two strengths of the same product. They contain broadly the same eight species in almost opposite proportions.
| Super 8 Gold | Super 8 Immune | |
|---|---|---|
| Bifidobacterium | 80% | 9% |
| Lactobacillus | 20% | 91% |
| Dominant strain | B. breve (45%) | L. acidophilus (45%) |
| Guaranteed at expiry | 61 billion | 31 billion |
| Added vitamin C | — | 15mg |
| Daily amount | 1–3 capsules | 1 capsule |
Bifidobacterium species are typically the more abundant genus in the large intestine; Lactobacillus species are more associated with the small intestine. The two formulations reflect that difference in emphasis.
Why the ratio changes with age
The proportion of Bifidobacterium in each formula is a deliberate choice, not a by-product of the cell count.
- Babies & Toddler's — 25% Bifidobacterium, and the only formula containing Bifidobacterium infantis, the species characteristic of the infant gut.
- Children's Blend — 10%, and the only formula containing Lactobacillus fermentum.
- Adult's Blend — 10% across two Bifido species.
- Adult 50+ — 30% across three, adding Bifidobacterium longum. Bifidobacterium abundance in the human gut is generally observed to decline with age, and this formula is weighted accordingly.
Shared across the range
- FOS-free. No added fructooligosaccharides in any formula. FOS is a fermentable carbohydrate and one of the compounds restricted on a low-FODMAP diet.
- Strain-level percentages published, so a blend cannot hide one strain carrying the rest.
- Human-adapted strains, originally isolated from the human digestive tract rather than from dairy or soil.
- No enteric coating. The strains are selected for tolerance to stomach acid and bile.
- Refrigerated and packed in amber glass rather than plastic.
- Super 8 Gold and Super 8 Immune carry an over-fill ratio allowing up to four weeks unrefrigerated at room temperature — enough to travel with.
Browse the full microbiotics range →
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle.