Is the BioGaia Osfortis capsule suitable for vegans?

All ingredients in BioGaia Osfortis are of non-animal origin.

Are BioGaia Osfortis free from common allergens?

Common allergens such as egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and soy have not been used in the manufacturing of BioGaia Osfortis. The product has no added sugar, preservatives, colour or flavouring.

Can I use BioGaia Osfortis if I am intolerant and/or allergic to gluten, lactose and/or milk protein?

Neither milk protein nor lactose is used in the manufacturing of BioGaia Osfortis, and the gluten level is below EU limit value for gluten-free products. As food regulation varies from country to country, the product labelling may differ.

Do I need to take L. reuteri Osfortis every day?

Yes, for several reasons. Firstly, the resident microbiota of an individual is relatively fixed and thereby highly resistant to the establishment of “newcomers”. Even if L. reuteri is of human origin and naturally belongs in our bodies, it only colonises temporarily. Secondly, even though L. reuteri binds to the epithelial lining, the epithelial cells are replaced about once a week, why most of the L. reuteri cells are also washed out. And lastly, the clinical evidence is based on a daily supplementation of L. reuteri Osfortis.

Therefore, to ensure adequate and stable levels of L. reuteri Osfortis in the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to take L. reuteri Osfortis every day.

What is the hypothesis of how L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 exerts its effect on bone health?

Inflammation is a major cause of bone loss. L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 has in preclinical trials been shown to affect immune cells that control bone remodelling. This leads to an increased activity of osteoblasts, that build bone, and a decreased activity of osteoclasts, that degrade bone, resulting in an increased bone density.^2,3

_{1. Collins FL, Rios-Arce ND, Schepper JD, Jones AD, Schaefer L, Britton RA, McCabe LR, Parameswaran N. (2019) Beneficial effects of Lactobacillus reuteri 6475 on bone density in male mice is dependent on lymphocytes. Sci Rep. 9(1):14708. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-51293-8.}

_{2. Britton RA, Irwin R, Quach D, Schaefer L, Zhang J, Lee T, Parameswaran N, McCabe LR. (2014) Probiotic reuteri treatment prevents bone loss in a menopausal ovariectomized mouse model. J Cell Physiol. 229:1822–1830.}

Have the benefits of Osfortis been shown in clinical studies?

Yes. Daily supplementation of L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 for 12 months has been shown to significantly reduce bone loss in older women with low bone mineral density, when compared to placebo. It was shown in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 90 older women (75-80 years old) with incipient osteoporosis. The patients received 10 billion CFU of L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 per day.

Why is the daily recommended dose higher for L. reuteri Osfortis than for other BioGaia probiotic products?

The dose is based on the results from clinical trials, i.e., the dose that has been shown to be efficient in clinical trials for this specific indication. The clinical trial by Nilsson et al. 2018¹ showed significantly reduced bone loss in older women with low bone mineral density at a dose of 10 billion CFU of L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 (Osfortis) per day. Therefore, the recommended daily dose of Osfortis is 10 billion CFU/day.

_{1. Nilsson AG, Sundh D, Bäckhed F, Lorentzon M. (2018) Lactobacillus reuteri reduces bone loss in older women with low bone mineral density – a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical trial. J Intern Med. 284:307-317. doi: 10.1111/joim.12805}

What is the recommended daily dose of L. reuteri Osfortis?

The recommended daily dose is one capsule twice daily, taken with or without food. Each capsule contains 5 billion CFU of L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475.

What is the difference between Protectis, Gastrus, Prodentis and Osfortis?

The main difference between Protectis, Gastrus, Prodentis and Osfortis is that they contain different probioticL. reuteri strains, or combinations of L. reuteri probiotic strains.

Protectis contains L. reuteri DSM 17938
Osfortis contains L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475
Gastrus contains L. reuteri DSM 17938 and L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475
Prodentis contains L. reuteri DSM 17938 and L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289

All BioGaia’s probiotic products have been tested in clinical studies and found safe and effective.

All BioGaia’s probiotic L. reuteri strains have been shown to survive in the human gastrointestinal tract and to temporarily colonise the small intestine. They have also been shown to have a positive effect on the microbiota composition.

What is Limosilactobacillus reuteri Osfortis (L. reuteri Osfortis)?

Limosilactobacillus reuteri (formerly known as Lactobacillus reuteri) Osfortis is a capsule containing 5 billion CFU of the probiotic L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 in combination with 5 μg vitamin D. L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 has a clinically proven effect on bone health, and vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. Osfortis thereby offers a new, natural way to prevent bone loss.