Optibac Probiotic Dietitian Review – 2025

Introduction

With so many probiotic options available, have you encountered the brand Optibac and wondered if its products are effective?

This article provides an in-depth review of Optibac probiotics. 

We will discuss what Optibac probiotics are, how they work, and check the research behind their products.

In this Optibac review, you will also find out which strains are effective for different health issues – from bloating to UTIs.

What are probiotics?

“Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host” (1).

Probiotics benefits are highly strain-specific, meaning that not all probiotics work the same way or provide the same results.

Therefore, you should always choose a probiotic with clinically proven strains for the specific health goal you want to address.

For example, if you struggle with IBS, you should choose a product that contains scientifically proven microbial strains to help with your symptoms. 

You can read more about probiotics for IBS in one of our previous posts.

What are Optibac Probiotics?

Optibac Probiotics is a UK brand specializing in probiotic supplements suitable for all age groups.

At the time of writing this article, Optibac offers 14 different products for different target groups, such as babies, pregnant women, and others (2).

The products each contain specific strains of live bacteria, yeast, fibre, and micronutrients – either on their own or in combination.

Optibac probiotics are available in the form of:

• Capsules
• Gummies
• Drops
• Sachets

Do Optibac Probiotics reach the gut alive?

If you are looking for a probiotic to target gut health it is important that it can reach the large bowel (the bit at the end of the gut).

It is very difficult for most live microbes to survive to the end of the gut as the stomach and small bowel are designed to kill them off. 

This means that probiotic manufacturers must consider how they will create a product which protects their live microbes until they are at the intended destination.

There is some research to support the idea that the microbes in Optibac products do reach the large bowel alive (3, 4, 5).

But, when probiotic strains are incorporated into supplements, processing like drying, encapsulation, and the addition of other ingredients, can impact their stability and survival.

This is why we really need more research on the end products in the future.

Every Day Extra

Every Day Extra provides 20 billion CFU (Colony-Forming Units, a unit that estimates the number of live microbes) per capsule with the following bacteria strains:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM
• Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37
• Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07
• Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04

In a study with 503 participants, this combination of bacteria showed a reduced amount of people getting diarrhea and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea when taking antibiotics (6).

In the study, scientists randomized participants into three groups; 

1. High dose of probiotics (17 billion CFU)
2. Low dose (4.17 billion CFU)
3. Placebo (6).

Both probiotic groups experienced protection against common antibiotic side effects, with the high-dose group showing more significant benefits (6).

The results suggest a dose-response relationship, where higher doses of probiotics provided greater protective effects.

Another study confirmed these effects. Patients who took the same probiotics as in “Every Day Extra”, experienced fewer days of diarrhea (3.5 days on average) compared to those who took a placebo (12.0 days on average) (7). 

Every Day MAX

Every Day MAX offers a dose of 75 billion CFU per capsule with three strains:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM
• Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04
• Bifidobacterium lactis HN019

At the moment, there is no research on this specific blend of live microbes available, but we have studies on each strain separately. 

Because probiotic strains interact with each other (they can enhance or inhibit each other’s effects), results from studies on separate strains are not overly predictive of how a blend will act in the gut.

Both supplements, ˝Every Day EXTRA˝ and ˝Every Day MAX˝ contain the probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM.

Research shows this specific strain alleviates moderate to severe abdominal pain and bloating in patients with IBS (8, 9).

Moreover, research on people with functional constipation showed improved regularity in the group that was taking Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 for 28 days (10).

Optibac Probiotic for Women

For Women product contains 2,5 billion CFU of three bacteria strains:

• Lactobacillus paracasei F-19
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 
• Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14

There is no research available on this specific probiotic product, so we cannot determine its effectiveness or understand how the probiotic strains work together. 

More researched strains from the product are Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14. 

Three studies showed that those two strains can prevent UTIs and vaginal infections and might be a better option than antibiotics as they can not cause antibiotic resistance (11, 12, 13).

Both strains produce lactic acid, which lowers the vaginal pH. An acidic environment is unfavorable for yeast growth, helping to limit its growth (14). 

Additionally, the probiotic strains can adhere to the vaginal lining, forming a physical barrier that reduces the space and nutrients available for yeast (15).

While the individual strains show promise, we do not yet know if their effects will be enhanced, diminished, or remain the same when combined. 

Further clinical trials are necessary to fully understand the synergistic effects and potential benefits of this specific combination.

Are the products suitable for people with food allergies or intolerances?

All products are vegetarian and gluten-free. All Optibac products are also suitable for people with lactose intolerance (16). 

However, the product called ˝Every Day˝ is not suitable for those with severe dairy allergies as it can contain traces of dairy (16). 

How should I take Optibac probiotic products?

The instructions for taking Optibac probiotics can vary depending on the specific product, so before you start taking supplements, check the label and read the instructions.

Here are some general recommendations;

• Take it with breakfast as this can reduce the impact of stomach acid.
• Avoid taking with hot liquids alongside your supplement.
• Allow at least a 2-3 hour gap between any antibiotics and probiotics.

When you will notice the effect of taking probiotics depends on the product you take, your lifestyle, your microbiota and many other factors.

However, guidelines on the treatment of IBS suggest taking them for up to 12 weeks and discontinuing them if there is no improvement in symptoms (17).

How to store Optibac Probiotics

Probiotics must be stored in a dry place at room temperature, away from direct sunlight (18). 

If the room temperature is higher than 25 °C,˝Every Day EXTRA˝ and ˝MAX˝, ˝For Women˝, and ˝Pregnancy˝ should be refrigerated (18).

Although it is not necessary, manufacturers suggest storing ˝Baby drops˝ in the fridge too, due to hygiene purposes (18).

What are the side effects of Optibac probiotics?

Side effects are not common, however, at the beginning, you can experience:

• Bloating
• Gas
• Bowel pattern alterations

Those side effects are temporary as your gut has to adjust to the new bacteria (19).

Taking a very large amount of Saccharomyces boulardii may also slow down stool transit time (19).

If you find the side effects too harsh, stop taking the product and reintroduce it gradually after symptoms disappear.

Can you take Optibac probiotics long-term?

Yes, you can take probiotics long-term as they usually have the effect while you take them. 

However, after a longer period of taking them, you can take a break from probiotics to assess if you still need them.

If you would like to know more about other options for you to try, read our articles: The best probiotics for IBS-D (with 5 research backed up options) and Symprove review – Written by a Dietitian.

Summary

Optibac offers a variety of probiotic supplements suitable for different age groups. 

While the microbial strains used in Optibac products are well-researched, there is limited research available on the specific formulations of these products.

As probiotics benefits are strain-specific, you have to choose a product that contains scientifically proven strains for the specific health condition.

Written by Barbara Lešnik, Dietitian MSc, ​​reviewed by Kirsten Jackson, Consultant Dietitian BSc Hons, RD, PG Cert.