Building and strengthening your gut flora – probiotics, prebiotics, and more
A healthy gut is much more than just a digestive organ. An estimated 100 trillion microorganisms live in your gut – bacteria, fungi, and other tiny organisms that together form what's known as the gut microbiome. This delicate ecosystem not only affects your digestion, but also your immune system, your mood, and your overall vitality.
What will I find in this category?
This category includes three product groups:
Probiotic capsules and tablets – formulations containing one or more bacterial strains (e.g., Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium cultures), available in pack sizes of 30 to 90 capsules.
Prebiotics & fibre products – These include Prebiona powder (600 g), made from inulin and fibre, as well as organic psyllium husk capsules.
Special products – combination formulas like BiomOpti+® (iron + lactic acid bacteria + vitamin C) and Curcuma ProEliteX® (turmeric, ginger, vitamins), as well as probadent lozenges for oral flora.
What should you look for when buying?
Feature | What's behind it |
|---|---|
Number of strains | Single-strain products (e.g., S. boulardii) vs. multi-strain complexes (up to 20 cultures in Probio20) |
Dosage form | Capsules, lozenges, or powder – depending on your preference and intended use |
Pack size | 30 capsules (for beginners or travel) to 90 capsules (for long-term use) |
Combination with nutrients | Some products also contain iron, vitamin C, turmeric, or prebiotic fibre |
Where to use | Gut flora (most products) or oral flora (probadent range) |
Our brands in this category
Vitality Nutritionals – an independent brand from VitaminExpress, developed for quality and active ingredient concentration. In this category, it's represented by Probio14, Probio20, ProbioSlim, Prebiona, psyllium husks, and Curcuma ProEliteX®.
nupure – a specialist manufacturer of microbiome products from Germany. In this category, it is represented by probaflor 30, probaflor 90, probaflor plus, probadent 30, probadent 90, and BiomOpti+® Iron.
What is gut flora?
The gut flora – scientifically known as the intestinal microbiota – encompasses all the microorganisms that live in your digestive tract.
Factors that can affect the gut flora:
- Antibiotic treatments
- An unbalanced diet with little fibre and lots of processed foods
- Chronic stress and lack of sleep
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Excessive alcohol and nicotine consumption
- Certain medications (e.g., proton pump inhibitors, laxatives)
Probiotics – live cultures
Probiotics are living microorganisms that are taken in sufficient quantities. The most commonly used strains include:
- Lactobacillus strains (e.g., L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum)
- Bifidobacterium strains (e.g., B. longum, B. bifidum)
- Saccharomyces boulardii – a yeast with probiotic properties
At VitaminExpress, you'll find probiotic supplements with multiple bacterial strains in high colony counts – from classic capsules to formulations with enteric-coated shells.
Prebiotics – fibre for your gut
Prebiotics are indigestible fibre and carbohydrates. The most common prebiotic substances include:
- Inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS): naturally found in chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, and onions
- Psyllium husks: a type of fibre that swells when soaked in liquid
- Pectin: a fibre blend derived from fruit
Taking probiotics and prebiotics together is also known as synbiotics.
How do I choose the right supplement?
Criterion | What you should consider |
|---|---|
Strain diversity | Multi-strain vs. single-strain products |
Bacterial count (CFU) | Typically, there are 1–50 billion CFU per daily dose |
Gastro-resistance | Gastro-resistant capsules or micro-encapsulation |
Composition | On its own or combined with prebiotics (synbiotics) |
Quality & storage | Certified quality standards and proper storage conditions |
Frequently Asked Questions for Intestinal flora supplements
The gut flora – scientifically known as the intestinal microbiota – is the collective term for all the microorganisms that inhabit the human digestive tract.
It comprises bacteria, yeasts, and other microorganisms, and varies from person to person.
Various factors can influence the microbial composition in the gut:
- Diet (especially fibre content)
- Antibiotic treatments
- Stress and sleep quality
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Alcohol and nicotine consumption
- Certain medications (e.g., proton pump inhibitors, laxatives)
- Age
Probiotics are products that contain live microorganisms. The most commonly used strains include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, as well as the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii.
Prebiotics are indigestible fibre and carbohydrates that serve as a substrate for microorganisms in the gut. Common prebiotics include inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), psyllium husks, and pectin. They occur naturally in foods like chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, onions, and fruit.
Probiotics provide living microorganisms from an external source. Prebiotics provide nourishment to the microorganisms already present in the gut. Products that combine both components are called synbiotics.
Synbiotics is the term for products or combinations that contain both probiotics (live cultures) and prebiotics (fibre as a substrate).
Intestinal microbiota is the scientific term for gut flora – that is, all the microorganisms that live in the gut. The terms 'gut flora' and 'intestinal microbiota' are often used interchangeably.
That depends on the specific product and your intended use. Pack sizes of 30 capsules are suitable for shorter periods of use or when travelling, while 90-capsule packs are designed for longer, continuous use. Please follow the dosage recommendations on the packaging.
Both products are from nupure. probaflor is formulated for the gut flora and comes in capsule form (30 or 90 capsules). probadent is designed as a lozenge and specifically targets the oral flora.
Psyllium husk is a type of fibre from the plant Plantago ovata that swells when it comes into contact with water. They belong to the category of prebiotics and are available from VitaminExpress as organic psyllium husk capsules under the Vitality Nutritionals brand.