Celiac And Align Probiotic Does Anyone Take It? Side Effects?

[Leapoffaith]

Does anyone use the product Align Probiotic?  Does it help?  Any side effects?

 

[Kate79]

I've used it and have not noticed any side effects.  I don't take it regularly becuase it's so expensive, but if I'm having stomach issues due to gluten contamination (or anything else) I've found it can be helpful to take for a week or two afterward.

[peeptoad]

I've taken Align 2 or 3 times in the past and, for me, it is like an expensive placebo. It did absolutely nothing at all to help, but I also experienced no side effects.

[Leapoffaith]

Thank you!  I appreciate the advice.

[Smylinacha]

In took it but didn't like how expensive it was and not sure if it even helped. Went through one box and it cost $40. I am on Culturelle now for 2 weeks and it is a little cheaper and my bowel movements are regular ... No D or C anymore.

[dilettantesteph]

The admin posted this a little while ago: https://www.celiac.com/articles/23214/1/Can-Bifidobacterium-infantis-Natren-Life-Start-Strain-Help-Active-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html

 

It talks about a study of celiacs who took the organism that is in Align, but in the probiotic Natren LifeStart 2.  There were only 22 in the study, and 10 took the placebo.  There is a link to the study at the bottom of the post.  They took the equivalent of 4 capsules of Align with each meal.  They were also eating 12 g. gluten a day.  

 

I have been having minor symptoms from what I think is trace gluten contamination.  I am very sensitive and pretty well have problems with most things that I don't grow myself, and I basically ran out of my own food this winter.  I decided to give it a try.

 

After one day of one capsule a day I was no better, after two days I seemed significantly better, and now after three days, I think that I have improved further.  This is so far the only thing that has ever helped besides ridding my diet of trace gluten.  I also take probiotics in the form of yogurt with live cultures, but those are made with different organisms.  I have also taken BioK, which also has different organisms, but the same as the yogurt culture I use.  Mind you, I have only tried it for 3 days, and it could easily be due to something else, but I haven't changed my diet at all.

 

Natren LifeStart seems to be a less expensive source of the same microorganism, but my local Vitamin Shoppe is so far out of stock.  The smallest bottle of that runs around $15 and seems worth a try.

 

If you decide to try it, I hope it works for you.