Align probiotic is new and claims to be more effective than other probiotics. From the clinical studies, and my own personal experience, it does appear to be effective. I can't say that it's more effective than other probiotics, as it wasn't tested head-to-head against them. In addition, there were few side effects reported with it's use. If there is a downside, it is the price.

I wanted to write about Align probiotic for a couple of reasons:

1. It's new
2. It claims to be more effective than other probiotics
3. I've had personal experience with its use

First a little primer on probiotics

Right now, in your intestines, are millions of bacteria - both good and bad. Sometimes, for a lot of reasons, your 'flora' (as this mix of bacteria is referred to) can get out of balance. And, when it does, the overabundance of 'bad' bacteria can lead to diarrhea, bloating, nausea, cramping and other complaints.

In fact, next to the common cold, these Irritable Bowel-like symptoms are the #2 cause of missed work hours in the US.

Probiotics, in theory, are an answer to that problem.

You can take them and they should repopulate your 'normal flora'. In other words, they give you a way to quickly get good bacteria into your system.

The problems?

As I mentioned above, there are hundreds of products on the market. Not all of them are created equal.

Also, your gut is colonized with many different strains of good bacteria. Most probiotics contain one type (or group) of bacteria. So, can one strain of bacteria really help that much?

In Align's case...it appears so

Before you go any further, let me share a quick story with you.

Just last week the pharmacist who I work with had finished a course of the antibiotic metronidazole. He had been taking it because he thought he had an intestinal virus. While he did start feeling better, he still complained of diarrhea and intestinal discomfort.

A hallmark side effect of metronidazole can be killing off his intestinal 'flora'. Or his good bacteria in his gut. I recommended that maybe he give Align a shot. Simply because we had some samples in the pharmacy.

Long story short

He took his dose at around 10AM and by that afternoon was feeling much better. In fact, he was singing the praises of Align. A week later he was calling it a 'life saver'.

His only complaint was that when he drank milk he experienced pretty intense bloating.

More scientific evidence

First of all, the strain of probiotic in Align is indeed new. Its scientific name is Bifidobacterium infantis 35624. P&G Health Sciences Institute, the maker of Align, has patented this strain under the trade name Bifantis®.

Secondly, it has proven to be effective in relieving IBS symptoms in trials. The main study measured abdominal pain and discomfort, urgency of bowel movements, passage of gas and mucus, bowel habit satisfaction, bloating distension, sense of incomplete evacuation and straining at stool.

The quality of the study, in my opinion, was good. Placebo controlled (one group got a sugar pill the other got the real thing), randomized, double-blind (neither group knew what they were getting) in 362 women between the ages of 18 and 65.

At the end of four weeks the women who took Align daily had significantly better responses based on their symptom improvement - on average about a 20% improvement in symptoms. There were no significant side effects reported.

The only downside of the study? It was sponsored by the maker of Align (P&G Health Sciences Institute).

Real World Results

For most folks a lot of intestinal complaints can be attributed to how they eat. For example, prebiotics (not to be confused with probiotics) are a type of sugar that is broken down into friendly bacteria in your gut. Prebiotics are naturally present in many types of fruits and vegetables.

But, for many people, a change in the way they eat may not be the complete answer. At that point it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor about supplementing with a probiotic.

Downside?

If there is an obvious downside to Align, it is the price.

I searched around online and found a couple of places who were matching prices and offering free shipping. Expect to pay about $1 per day (or dose, since Align is taken once daily).

Other probiotics are cheaper and since I have not seen head-to-head comparisons between Align and those probiotics it's hard for me to say if the extra added cost is worth it.