Update 2/27/20. “Do you suffer from sugar cravings, inexplicable fatigue or bloating, anxiety or a “brain fog”? Fortunately, ProBio5 provides a solution to many of today's “mystery” symptoms.” Those are some of the words used to describe the Plexus Slim ProBio5, a healthy gut, probiotic supplement. Interestingly, weight loss is not specifically mentioned in this list, although some may use it for weight loss in conjunction with Plexus Slim (the original pink drink). So, does ProBio5 help weight loss and does it help Plexus Slim work better? Does it have any side effects? Let's see what we can discover. See the review of plexus slim current ingredients, Joyome anti-wrinkle cream and Plexus Hunger Control.
ProBio5 Benefits
According to the Plexus website, ProBio 5 is supposed to provide these benefits:
- Helps keep intestinal yeast in balance
- Helps support a healthy intestinal tract
- Supports healthy digestion
- Helps improve natural response to imbalance
- Promotes healthy bacteria counts and pH levels in the gut
What Does The Name Mean?
My guess is the “pro” refers to probiotic. The Bio5 in the name refers to the 5 different types of probiotic bacteria in the supplement.
ProBio5 Ingredients
The name “ProBio” gives a hint that this is a probiotic supplement. The “5” in the name tells us that there are 5 different types of probiotic bacteria in the product. Interestingly, there is more in the product than just probiotics. According to the label I have, 1 capsule contains the following ingredients:
| Proprietary blend (200 mg) | % DV NV |
| Protease | |
| Peptizyme | |
| Cellulase | |
| Chitosinase (from bacillus Sp ) | |
| Probiotic Blend (100 mg) | NA |
| Lactobacillus | |
| Lactobacillus Acidophillus | |
| Bacillus Sporogenes | |
| Bacillus Longum | |
| S. Boulardi | |
| Antioxidant Blend | |
| Vitamin C 150 mg | 250 % |
| Grape Seed Extract 25 mg | N/A |
| Vitamin B6 25 mg | 50% |
N/A = no daily value established
Other ingredients listed on the label include gelatin, water yeast and brown rice powder.
Note. There is a new ingredients list. See below for a comparison.
Updated ProBio 5 Label
Since this review was created the Nutrition Facts Label of Probio5 has changed. Here is the label as it appears now side-by-side with the original Nutrition Facts labeling:
| ProBio 5 New Nutrition Facts (1 capsule) | ProBio 5 Original Nutrition Facts (1 capsule) |
|---|---|
| Vitamin C 150mg (250%DV) | Proprietary blend (200 mg) consisting of the following: |
| Vitamin B6 2.5mg (125 % DV) | Protease |
| Proprietary Enzyme Blend (200 mg) consisting of the following: | Peptizyme |
| Proteases | Cellulase |
| Chitosanase (from Bacillus coagulans) | Chitosinase (from bacillus sp ) |
| Cellulase | Probiotic Blend (100 mg) consisting of the following: |
| Seropeptase (as Peptizyme SP) | Lactobacillus |
| Probiotic Blend 100 mg consisting of the following: | Lactobacillus Acidophillus |
| Bacillus coagulans | Bacillus Sporogenes |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus | Bacillus Longum |
| Bifidobacterium longum | S. Boulardi |
| Lactobacillus plantarum | Antioxidant Blend consisting of the following: |
| Saccharomyces boulardii | Vitamin C 150 mg (250% DV) |
| Grape seed extract 25 mg | Grape Seed Extract 25 mg |
| Vitamin B6 25 mg (50% DV) |
As can be seen, some ingredients have remained the same, some have changed and also how some of the ingredients are listed have changed. Note, further below I list another table that compares Probio 5 ingredients. This table is the CURRENT ingredients list. It supersedes the table you see below.
I'll leave up the old table below for those who are doing their own research.
ProBio5 Research
Since the original “pink drink” formula (AKA Plexus Slim. Click this link for my review of plexus slim) had boasted an unpublished study that's been used to substantiate its effectiveness, I wondered if there might be some sort of evidence to support ProBio5? If there is research, I didn’t see any studies about it on the PlexusWorldWide.com.
Likewise, searching for clinical databases for:
- “Probio5”
No relevant studies showed up.
In addition, when I searched Google for “Probio5 research” no relevant information showed up either. This says to me that ProBio5 ―itself 
―probably has no published, peer-reviewed proof that it helps people lose weight or alters bacteria flora.
That said, the idea that certain types of bacteria might help people lose weight (or gain weight) is not without some evidence. Intriguing research appears to show that:
- Overweight mice have different bacteria than skinny mice.
- Bacteria from overweight people transferred to skinny mice, makes mice gain weight.
- Bacteria from skinny people transferred to skinny mice kept mice skinny.
- Bacteria from skinny mice might be less able to breakdown food than bacteria from overweight mice.
- Baby mice, given low doses of antibiotics, have a greater chance of being overweight.
For more info about these types of experiments, see these reviews:
- The microbes in your gut may be making you fat or keeping you thin (WashingtonPost.com)
- How Gut Bacteria Help Make Us Fat and Thin (ScientificAmerican.com)
Just as intriguing is this 2014 study titled Exercise and associated dietary extremes impact on gut microbial diversity which noted that people who exercised intensely (Rugby players) had more of a particular type of bacteria that may play a role in weight loss. These people also had reduced cellular inflammation as well.
For more on this study, see these articles:
- Exercise and the ‘Good’ Bugs in Our Gut (New York Times)
Results such as these, might be the reason for the idea that probiotic supplements can help people lose weight.
But, since I'm not able to find any research on ProBio5 itself, I want to see if there has been any weight loss research on the 5 types of bacteria in the product. If there is, then this might lend evidence to whether it works or not.
Let's do that now.
Proprietary Enzyme Blend
According to the label, there are 4 different types of enzymes in the proprietary enzyme. They are:
Protease
This is a protein-digesting enzyme. The prefix “pro” refers to protein and, as a rule, science words that end in “ase” is an enzyme. We need proteases to help us digest proteins.
Peptizyme
This is a trademarked name for Serratia Peptidase, another protein-digesting enzyme.
Cellulase
This is an enzyme that breaks down cellulose, a compound that makes up the cell walls of not only microorganism but also of fruits and vegetables. Humans don’t naturally make the cellulase enzyme. As my 12th grade biology teacher once said, many years ago, if we made cellulase, we could digest paper since cellulose is in that too!
Chitosinase
This is an enzyme that digests chitin, another type of carbohydrate. In addition to being part of some microorganisms, chitin also forms the outside skeleton of insects and crustaceans.
Ironically, some weight loss supplements contain chitin, such as a product called Chitosan.
ProBio5 Enzymes
According to the Plexus Slim website, they say they did this because fungi and yeast are composed of protein, chitin, and cellulose. The enzymes, they say, help break down these microorganisms, which in turn help friendly, probiotic bacteria flourish.
On the surface, this might make some sense. But, where's the proof? Evidence that these 4 enzymes, reduce yeast or fungal growth – or help people lose weight – could not be located.
In this 2010 article from Newsweek, titled How Intestinal Bacteria May Make You Fat, it's stated that overweight people may have bacteria that work too well―in other words, they are better at digesting food (and thus, absorbing calories) than the bacteria in skinnier people.
If this turns out to be true, would adding enzymes that digest protein and carbs, cause people to breakdown― and absorb― more calories? Would this cause people to gain weight?
I have no idea.
I mention this not to scare anybody but only to give people something to think about. Remember, the weight loss research ― so far that I'm aware of ― does not appear to incorporate protein and carb digesting enzymes.
As such, I don’t think they are needed.
For what it's worth, I personally, I think the enzymes in Probios5 would be destroyed by the acidity of the stomach soon after they are taken. I don’t think the enzymes would make it to the large intestine, where the good and bad bacteria reside.
Probiotic Blend
Now let's look at the bacteria in Probio5. Specifically, I want to search to see if there is any research linking any of these bacteria types to weight loss. If Probio5 works, I think the answer is held with these bacteria.
Lactobacillus
Probios 5 now contains both Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum.
The first thing we need to know is that there are many types of Lactobacillus bacteria. Plexus Slim does not tell us which type is in Probio5. This is important because it makes reviewing it difficult. With that in mind ―and focusing only on human research ― I searched the national library of medicine for:
- Lactobacillus overweight
- Lactobacillus obesity
- Lactobacillus weight loss
I found the following research that may or may not be relevant:
One animal study noted that Lactobacillus acidophilus injected into animals promoted some weight loss.
Another animal study noted that a specific strain of Lactobacillus plantarum (called “K21” strain) helped weight loss.
Plexus doesn't have this bacteria, but a 2014 study titled Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724 supplementation on weight loss and maintenance in obese men and women. In this investigation, overweight men and women were followed for 24 weeks (6 months). When combined with a moderate reduction in calories, the women who used a Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplement lost more weight and fat than women who were given a placebo.
Here is Lactobacillus Rhamnosus on Amazon.
This is a very interesting study but I don’t know if Probio5 contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus or not?
The study also notes that it was only women who lose weight. Men didn’t lose weight.
As was pointed out in this 2014 segment from 60 Minutes, there is a growing consensus that men and women might react differently to some medications. Might this same thing might also be true for supplements?
Lactobacillus Acidophilus
Focusing on only human studies, I searched clinical databases for these terms:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus obesity
- Lactobacillus acidophilus weight loss
- Lactobacillus acidophilus overweight
Human studies linking Lactobacillus acidophilus to weight loss cannot be located.
Ironically, a review of research it was noted that Lactobacillus acidophilus was associated with gaining weight (not weight loss)!
That's weird…
To be fair, in another study, the researchers concluded that:
“there is no evidence that consumption of lactobacilli or probiotics, in general, would contribute to obesity in humans.”
The lead author of this study is associated with Active Nutrition and Dupont Nutrition and Health, which make probiotic supplements.
Bacillus Sporogenes
I searched the National Library of Medicine for these words:
- Bacillus Sporogenes weight loss
- Bacillus Sporogenes obesity
- Bacillus Sporogenes overweight
No studies showed up for any of these search parameters.
Bacillus Longum
Searching clinical databases for these words:
- Bacillus Longum weight loss
- Bacillus Longum overweight
- Bacillus Longum obesity
revealed no studies of these bacteria and weight loss.
S. Boulardi
Also called Saccharomyces Boulardii. Saccharomyces boulardii is a type of yeast.
As I reviewed this ingredient, I discovered that the name “Boulardi” is spelled wrong on the ProBio5 label and on Plexus Slim website. I say this because when I searched online for “S Boulardi” all the search results were for “S Boulardii” (there is an extra “i” in the name). Nobody is perfect and I make spelling errors all the time too. I'm sure the company will eventually fix this.
Searching clinical databases for these words:
- Saccharomyces Boulardii weight loss
- Saccharomyces Boulardii overweight
- Saccharomyces Boulardii obesity
In study ,S boulardii was associated with weight loss and reduce fat mass in diabetic mice. Human evidence could not be located.
ProBio 5 Antioxidant Blend
This blend consists of the following ingredients:
- Vitamin C
- Grape seed extract
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
I can't think of a reason why antioxidants would be needed in a probiotic supplement, except maybe (I'm guessing here…) to help prevent spoilage (and death) of probiotic bacteria?
Grape seeds do contain chemicals (nutrients) called anthocyanins. To be sure, these are healthy things to consume, but some websites report that they inhibit the growth of lactobacillus acidophilus ―one of the main probiotics in ProBio5.
If this is the case, then why is it in this supplement? This is of course, assuming that anthocyanins are the extract used in ProBio5. I'll assume they are not using this extract. Again, what is the extract of grape seeds they are using?
Plexus Slim is also now supposed to help gut health.
ProBio5 New Formula
Before this review was posted, it was discovered that there was a new ProBio5 ingredients list on the Plexus website. Below is the old formula (which I listed above) and the new formula side-by-side so you can see the differences.
|
New Formula |
Old Formula |
| Proprietary Blend (200 mg) | Proprietary Blend (200 mg) |
| Proteases | Protease |
| Chitosanase (from bacillus coagulans) | Peptizyme |
| Cellulase | Cellulase |
| Peptizyme SP | Chitosainase (from Bacillus) |
| Probiotic Blend (100 mg) | Probiotic Blend (100 mg) |
| Bacillus Coagulans | Lactobacillus |
| L. Acidophilus | Lactobacillus acidophilus |
| B. Longum | Bacillus Longum |
| L. Plantarum | Bacillus Sporogenes |
| S. Boulardi | S. Boulardi |
| Antioxidant Blend | Antioxidant Blend |
| Vitamin C (150 mg) | Vitamin C (150 mg) |
| Vitamin B6 (2.5 mg) | Grape Seed Extract (25 mg) |
| Grape Seed Extract 25 mg | Vitamin B6 (2.5 mg) |
Red color indicates differences between old and new formulas.
Looking at these labels side by side, the following things stand out to me in the new label:
1. Proteases (plural) replaces Protease (singular).
2. Chitoasanase and Peptizyme have switched positions on the new list. Peptizyme is now called Peptizyme SP.
3. Bacillus Coagulans replaces Lactobacillus. The label also indicates that Bacillus Coagulans contributes both lactobacillus sporogenes and bacillus sporogenes to the product. I searched for weight loss studies for both of these bacteria but could not find any.
4. L. Plantarum replaces Bacillus Sporogenes (why?)
5. There is a LOT less Vitamin B6 – down from 25 mg in the old formula to 2.5 mg in the new product.
6. S. Boulardii is still spelled incorrectly on the new label and website.
Does ProBio 5 Promote Healthy Gut Bacteria?
One of the claims for this supplement is that it's supposed to support a healthy intestinal tract. Does it? Well, there does not appear to be any clinical evidence on the supplement, so this makes knowing whether it does or doesn't, difficult. Let's say it does. The bigger question though is what is a “healthy gut?” What does that look like?
Most experts believe a healthy gut is one that contains a diversity of bacteria. In other words, the greater the number of different types of bacteria in our intestines, the healthier we tend to be.
Can you promote diversity by only eating 5 different types of bacteria?
I don't know.
How To Naturally Promote A Healthy Gut
Most experts on this topic agree that eating foods that contain fiber is a good way to promote a healthy gut. That's because bacteria love to eat fiber – and the more the better.
How Many Live Bacteria?
According to plexusworldwide.com, at the time the product was made, each capsule contains “2 billion probiotic live cells.”
But, this is when the product was made.
This is important and something to keep in mind when shopping for ANY probiotic supplements.
The number of live bacteria present when the supplement was made may not always be the same as what is present when you purchase the product.
How many bacteria are in the product after it's been sitting on a shelf for 6 months old – or 1 year?
ProBio 5 Spit Test
Some people may have heard of a spit test to see if they have high levels of yeast in the body. By spitting in a glass of water, it's said that people have too much yeast if the spit fell to the bottom of the glass, or if it had tendrils hanging below it (like tendrils of a jellyfish).
I've seen the spit test mentioned on several websites including the Dr. Oz website but according to this YouTube video, the spit test ―while quick to do― is not perfect. Several things might make it seem like we have an overgrowth of yeast, when we may not. The best way to know if you have an overgrowth of yeast or fungus is to get tested by your doctor.
Probios 5 Side Effects
The supplement is likely fine in healthy people. No major side effects in healthy people were known when this review was updated.
Here are some general things to consider when taking this supplement. This list is not complete.
- Start with less than recommended for the first week to see if you have any reactions
- Peptizyme (Serrapeptase) might have a blood thinner effect so it might interact with blood thinner medications. This effect is also mentioned on the ProBio5 label.
- Don’t take probiotic supplements if taking antibiotics.
- Stop taking at least 2 weeks before surgery unless your doctor says otherwise
- If pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor first. This is also mentioned on the ProBio5 label.
- Some research that vitamin C along with grape seed polyphenols might raise blood pressure. The study used more vitamin C than is in ProBio5 – as well as 1000 mg of grape polyphenols (that’s a lot). Since this is only one study its hard to know how relevant it is. talk to your doctor if you have high blood pressure.
- Those with immune system problems should speak to their doctor before taking any probiotic supplement. Weakened immune systems may not be able to handle additional microorganisms.
DoesProBios 5 Work?
Some may take this supplement for weight loss although the proof for its effectiveness could not be located. While some may take the supplement along with Plexus Slim (the pink drink), proof that they work better together can also not be located. Does ProBio5 alter gut health? This is also not known. It might or might not.
What do you think?
I hesitate to respond to this because I am a Plexus ambassador. 🙂 I joined only for the wholesale prices. I was desperate for the sake of my kids. One child had chronic diarrhea, one had chronic constipation (encopresis) – both had skin issues, which makes sense, because if the gut can’t deal with things properly, the body pushes toxins out through the skin. So while many people think Plexus ambassadors are a bunch of money-loving, lying MLMers, there are some of us who joined secretly, some of us who hated network marketing, but joined anyway out of desperation.
Yes, my children are doing better. And yes, I started sharing because there are others suffering as we were. I truly believe ProBio deals with fungal overgrowth in a unique way, and you don’t need as high a count of good bacteria. Just like you don’t need as many flower seeds if you pull the weeds up before planting the seeds. 🙂
Are all those wild claims others talked about true? I don’t know. But I do know that personal friends of mine are no longer suffering. I know my elderly aunt is no longer dealing with the intestinal struggles she had for decades – and she was taking one of those probiotics from Walmart and it didn’t help. I just received an e-mail Monday from a friend I gave a bottle of ProBio to for her daughter. Three to four months ago, this little girl’s intestine was full of inflammation and she was a very sick girl. The medical test just taken last week (?) showed zero inflammation. They drastically changed their diet after this little girl’s diagnosis, but I can’t help but think ProBio has helped as well, since the white coating on her tongue when completely away after she started it. Maybe I’m wrong, but I like to think it did, because it has also helped the husband of another friend with the same diagnosis. 🙂
I’ve given away a lot of this stuff because I believe in it. So just because someone is a Plexus ambassador, please don’t assume he/she is a greedy monster. Many of them truly care about the folks they share it with. Many of them have seen drastic changes in their own health, or in the health of those they love. And they want to help others feel better too.
I know that somebody is going to say something negative about this comment (like “Nice cut and past job, Girl”) – it’s the way the comments go under articles like this. 🙂 But I felt I had to share this in case someone is checking out ProBio and might find this helpful. I happened on this only because I was looking up chitosanase for another friend whose son has been in the hospital with the same diagnosis the other two had. Incidentally, chitosanase is found in a number of candida cleanse products out there…
Forgive the two or more typos in my comment! It’s not always easy writing up a thoughtful post with 3 little ones running around… 🙂 And I can’t go back and edit like I can a FB comment!
Hi Ruth, I didn’t see any when I looked. I make my share of typos too so no worries if you made any 🙂
Hi Ruth, I’m glad your kids and aunt are doing well with plexus products 🙂
Ruth,
With all due respect, your characterization of ProBio simply is another in a long line of unsubstantiated claims. I applaud you for actually admitting that you are an ambassador as many come in here and immediately attempt to hide that from their posts.
ProBio, when compared with other probiotics on the market simply doesn’t come close in terms of product quality and further, has never been subjected to 3rd party testing or quality control. If such an product truly did what ambassadors claim it does, there would be notation of it somewhere. Plexus does not disclose where they source ingredients in this product nor any of their products.
It should also be noted that some of the claims you make about this product are strictly prohibited by your ambassador contract. Things like fungal overgrowth solutions, curing intestinal inflammation, etc. is not something that Plexus has been cleared to claim about its product. You should know that the FDA warned Plexus of such claims of the ProBio product in their letter to them dated 7/30/2014.
One of the worst things I see people doing is allowing children to ingest Plexus products, which have never had long-term studies done on them. To use an unsubstantiated and unconfirmed testimonial as a way to sway opinion for a product which people have a financial interest in is unethical. Just because these folks gave ProBio to their daughter does not in any way lend itself to a “cure” and should never be represented as such.
If the product worked for her kids it is substantiated.
No, it isn’t. I’m not sure what your criteria for substantiated is but the anonymous claim on the internet is far from anything a normal person would accept.
And by “worked”, what is meant there? Was there a professional diagnosis by a doctor in any of these cases? Were these children returned to said doctor and given an examination to reverse said diagnoses? Most likely not. Ambassadors have a horrible habit of self-diagnosing things and then claiming it was miraculously cured by a Plexus product. Never mind, no clinical trials, 3rd party testing, or medical expert opinions exist to back up such claims.
People are such rubes when it comes to magic cure-alls and this instance is no different.
It’s a good thing I personally know actual people I trust (who also know actual people they trust) who have seen incredible results. Hopefully, you’ll meet some, too. I sure don’t know any of the scientists who are making money hand over fists testing and selling drugs to doctors (or should I say “rubes”) and patients alike.
“No, it isn’t. I’m not sure what your criteria for substantiated is but the anonymous claim on the internet is far from anything a normal person would accept.”
“It’s a good thing I personally know actual people I trust (who also know actual people they trust) who have seen incredible results. ”
Yet, we never see any medical professional step up and publicly endorse and recommend any Plexus product for their patients. I wonder why that is? If something had “incredible results”, doctors would want to be a part of this in order to have satisfied patients as well as benefit financially.
These so-called “results” can usually be explained away by the mere fact that people begin to consume more water than normal. All the rest is just unsubstantiated testimonials which cannot be verified. As it stands, Plexus has never come forward with any legitimate clinical studies to prove anything that they or their ambassadors claim.
If this stuff worked and they could prove it by a legitimate study, they would make ten times the money they are now. The reason why they don’t is because they will be exposed as no different from any other unregulated supplement on the market. They don’t want to risk that, so they rely on folks like you to talk about “results” which are anything but that. As long as they string along folks who will pay and get excited for a new product every so often, they’ll keep rolling with it.
People need to educate themselves on how bacteria behaves. If you do not have a good delivery system to get through stomach acid that is high PH, then a good amount of bacteria die while traveling through your stomach acid. Companies try to prevent this by using enteric coating or a thick vegetable cap.
Also once bacteria make it through stomach acid, the surviving bacteria that are sleeping or known in a state of “stasis” need food (prebiotic) and hydration to multiply. It is a very tricky process to help bacteria survive. Many probiotics start with high CFU, because they know so many die in the process.
If a company cannot explain how they protect the bacteria through stomach acid with any clinicals, then you have no guarantee of effectiveness or survivibility. Look for probiotics with delivery systems that have clinicals that show it is proven to work, better yet, a patented process.
A patented process is best, because you have to prove that it works. I use one with clinicals and a patented proven process. I am not here to promote it, just here to explain how bacteria works and questions you should ask these MLM people.
Thanks Misty, speaking of bacteria, an interesting book people might like to take a look at is The Secret Life Of Fat. Its an easy read but packed with the science on what we know about what causes people to gain weight including viruses, hormones etc. The book discusses what we know now about bacteria causing gaining weight and what we can do to alter that.
Misty writes:
“If a company cannot explain how they protect the bacteria through stomach acid with any clinicals, then you have no guarantee of effectiveness or survivibility. Look for probiotics with delivery systems that have clinicals that show it is proven to work, better yet, a patented process.”
Plexus can’t do any of this with any of their products. They won’t disclose where they source ingredients. They won’t submit to 3rd Party testing and/or quality control. They simply yell out crap and the ignorant masses accept whatever they claim.
Actually- there has been 3rd party testing and clinical studies. Expand your search. Better yet- contact someone at corporate and they will give it to you!
Hi Valerie, can you share those clinical studies here?
Misty,
Any chance you would share what you do use and what research you have done and where? I am not interested in probiotics for weight loss but instead for overall health and to help fight a candida issue.
Joe, several times you mention a lack of scientific evidence to validate the product claims. Why haven’t you conducted your own study? Companies that produce their own research often get slandered for bias anyways. You could finally put it to rest. Do you need a grant to do your research? Do you need a real scientist? Do you need a lab?
What is stopping you from doing the research yourself? You seem pretty interested in paying for a website dedicated to datamining existing research and all things Plexus, but datamining is only the first step for a scientist looking to publish their own findings (and they don’t publish their datamining results on the internet for others to see). Joe, I have nothing to do with Plexus. I was doing my own research to compare existing probiotics when I stumbled onto your site.
Hi Mat, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this. To answer your question, I’d say its not my job to test supplements to see if they really work or not. I’d suppose that would be the job of the companies that make the products – and I’m not just talking about supplements either. The internet is full of places where people can read amazing stories about this or that product. What I try to do is give people a place where they can see research, free from hype and testimonials from people they dont know, to help them decide for themselves, as I hope it has helped you.
This site is not dedicated to “all things plexus” in any way. In fact I have not looked at their products in quite some time.
Matt writes:
“Joe, I have nothing to do with Plexus.”
Welcome to the forum another Plexus Ambasssador, folks.
Thank you. I had not seen this. Will take it into consideration.
Thought this article may interest you. It doesn’t mention ProBio5 but does mention a probiotic that ProBio5 contains
http://mobile.nutraingredients.com/Research/Certain-probiotics-could-help-women-lose-weight-study-finds
Nothing like a 3 year-old study to try and prove “Plexus Works”, right. The one thing that escapes ambassadors such as yourself here is that this study points out precisely the amount of Lactobacillus rhamnosus given to test subjects.
In Pro-Bio, we have zero idea how much it contains, or for that matter, if it truly contains any at all. That’s because Plexus has never submitted to quality control checks or subjected its products to testing. All you have is the words of charlatans running the company that it’s the best thing in the world.
I fail to see how the fact the study was done 3 years ago renders it obsolete. I didn’t note the date when I read it. I found the study interesting and noticed it mentioned one that probio5 contains. That’s it. I passed it on as a point of interest to add to the discussion. I’m not trying to hoodwink anyone or not be truthful. I’m interested in finding truth but you seem more interested in bashing Plexus. Have a good day.
Maybe someone who is an expert in this field can help you:
http://www.wfaa.com/features/what-is-plexus-/143077180
She pretty much says the same thing I do on this.
I would like to find out where this product is made?
Good luck with that. Plexus has never and probably will never disclose where they source their products. They will tell you it is made in the U.S. but that doesn’t mean that the individual ingredients are from the U.S.
Supplement ingredients are usually sent in from out of country (China, Taiwan, India, Mexico) and then put together somewhere in packets, pills, etc. Plexus’ newly hired “doctor” is from China, so I wouldn’t doubt the majority of their ingredients are sourced from there.
Plexus does not adhere to any standards of manufacturing processes nor have they subjected their products to quality control testing. If the company was so great and so full of cash, you’d think that they would want to do this in order to give their products a basis for legitimacy.
I personally can’t say enough good about this product! After dealing with stomach issues for as long as I can remember and living with a constant stomach ache no matter what I tried, a week on Probio5 along with 2 other Plexus supplements, completely changed things!!
Do you know what it’s like to finally realize that your stomach isn’t hurting for the first time in ages?? I know many, many other people who have had similar experiences with these products and feel as passionately about them as I do! Part of the reason they may contribute to weight loss is because.
They focus on gut health and a healthy gut cand the whole body functions better when the gut is healthy! My own brother wasn’t losing weight so he added Probio5 to his daily supplements, and the weight started to come off!
That’s probably the worst cut & paste job I have seen in some time, Clara. Be sure to tell your upline you followed orders by coming here and posting that nonsense.
You have to admit, it’s a pretty good canned sales presentation. I know one when I see one. lol
Michael, I want to thank you for consistently calling Plexus out on their bad products and MLM scheme that is taking money from people. I have a former coworker (a nurse) who is one of the top sellers for Plexus (she is working toward double diamond) and she has gotten many of my other coworkers into it too. She is the only one really making money (and she is rolling in the dough).
She actually is one of the keynote speakers at most of their conventions. They are all convinced they will be as rich as she is if they just keep working hard enough. And they are all nurses and keep posting on facebook about the wonderful health benefits and the bogus claims. So many people fall for it because they are nurses, it really bothers me!
I am also a nurse, and I can easily see that these products are a scam, possibly dangerous and if not dangerous have absolutely no science backing them up. They tell people they can stop taking medications for BP, diabetes etc if they use their products. It is crazy. These are smart women who have been completely brainwashed.
Plexus Probio5 contains 2 billion probiotic live cell cultures per capsule? The question at hand is WHY are there up to 15 billion in some other probiotics?
Our probiotic is not designed like the ones at other locations. It’s specifically designed to eliminate candida (google it if you don’t know what it is). Ours differs because of the 5 specific strains of probiotics in it. The focus on ridding the body of candida is where we are SO different from others that the 2 billion is so irrelevant in this case because we have a different goal with our probiotic than others.
From the desk of Alfred Pettersen, Plexus International President:
I contacted the formulator of the product and received this response back from her.
“It is important to let your Ambassadors know that PB5 is a product designed to abate candida and 24 common fungi that inhibit weight loss and affect wellness. As such, colony forming units do not apply for this product because it is a synergistic blending of the probiotics and three very effective enzymes that produce the wanted results. Everything in this product is for the above stated results, and for balance and to assist in flushing out the necrotic matter that results with organism die off, Colony forming units would apply if we were looking to create a probiotic product for general support in the gut and intestinal tract.
It is a mistake to represent PB5 as a comprehensive probiotic product since the task of achieving non-beneficial organism abatement is the goal. There is no other product we know of that is as effective as PB5 in truly abating and additionally synthesizing the candida and fungal die-off. Some products assist with some reduction of candida and/or fungal presence but don’t produce die-off at the level of PB5, and the lack of effectively synthesizing the necrotic matter can result in miserable detox symptoms. All phases of abatement and detox have…
I know that there are NO clinicals at the time on Probio5 but I do know that they are almost done clinicals on Plexus Slim regarding weightloss. There are multiple kinds of probiotics on the market and EVERY company says theirs is better then theirs. As with above stated this is NOT a general probiotic but a specific.
Mark, thanks for the follow up. Do let me know when the weight loss studies are published. I’d be interested in adding them to my review.
HI Mark, thanks so much for sharing that. Question, might you be able to share published evidence showing the probiotics in the product cause weight loss in humans?
Mark is another shill ambassador. I’d say he lost his man card many moons ago with all the frilly Plexus posts on his Facebook page.
He mentions Alfred Pettersen – Mark, do you even realize that Alfred is suing Plexus right now? Did your upline give you that info before sending you here? So pitiful.
So which probiotic do you sell, Michael? I’m reading this whole blog because I am in search of one to minimize the candida in my body. You’ve gone to great lengths to induce readers to question the validity of Pro Bio 5 claims. Surely you must sell a superior product. I’m interested in knowing about it.
No, I don’t sell any probiotic. But I do know how to go on the internet and find ones that actually give detailed information on their ingredient list and have actual tested results to research. I don’t rely on desperate ambassadors selling re-hashed “testimonials” about how a probiotic can cure virtually every ailment under the sun. I also don’t take probiotics any longer. A simple diet that includes yogurt gives you pretty much all you need.
Couple of things we need to look at here from Mark:
“It is a mistake to represent PB5 as a comprehensive probiotic product”
That doesn’t stop ambassadors from making every claim under the sun about it. They claim it helps with weight loss, that it cures Crohn’s & ABS, that it can replace ADHD medicines, that it can virtually rid your body of every toxin known to mankind.
“Plexus Probio5 contains 2 billion probiotic live cell cultures per capsule? The question at hand is WHY are there up to 15 billion in some other probiotics?”
Why? Probably because other probiotics are vastly superior to the tripe that Plexus puts out. Borrowing from Dr. Steve Czys:
“The probio5 only has 2 billion CFU’s of 5 strains at the time of production. The label doesn’t tell you how much of each strain so who knows exactly what you are getting.
The probiotic I take has 15 billion CFU’s per serving, 9 different strains, and it tells exactly how much of each strain there is. Each strain has also been proven to survive our digestive acids and improve health outcomes. The 15 billion was a year after production. On top of all of that…they are less expensive than probio5.”
There’s nothing unique or different about ProBio, other than it is an inferior and higher priced product.
Which probiotic do you take?
I don’t take any. Sensible diet which includes yogurt. To me, probiotics has become a fad. People will take anything off the shelf without consulting a doctor or having tests run to see if they even need it. Plexus ambassadors will lay claim that their product cures all sorts of ailments and because they have heard positive things about probiotics, people will line up to pop another pill into their system and believe that somehow Plexus has a superior product. No research, no studies, just the words of people trying to work their way up an MLM ladder.
Please edit the B6 numbers… you list 2.5 vs 2.5 then you mention 250 ( I refer to the mg.).
Thanks again for the help!
The only place I mentioned 250 was with respect to the vitamin C percent daily value. As for B6, I was comparing the differences between the new and old formulas. It was 25 mg and its now 2.5 mg
You still show comparison as the same number.
Hi Kim, oh ok I think I know what you are referring to. I have screen shots of lables saying there is both 2.5 and 25 mg of B6. Also
The order in which B6 shows up has changed. I dont know why they ordered the ingredients differently.
It says up to 4 a day, but I never suggest anyone begin with that. Start with 1 for a week and add 1 per week. The most I have taken is 3. I started out too quickly with 4 and started shedding candida so fast I ended up with external tashes. Not fun. Start slow and build
What are “external tashes”?
I think it’s supposed to say “rashes”
Jim Honea’s relative is a Silver Ambassador with Plexus. Color me unsurprised that he’s here making wild claims about the product miraculously curing ills. Shockingly, this person also uses God & Christianity to help boost sales of this poison.
Michael, really. when I read over the top testimonials like his, I do try to see if they are legit or not. I did try to google his name and email with “plexus” and didn’t see anything. Hopefully he will write back and let us know if hes an ambassador or not.
My father-in-law is suffering from agent orange induced Parkinson’s disease. He is also dealing with sundowner’s syndrome. He stays at home so my mother-in-law is his caretaker. Because of the sundowner’s she gets very little sleep which keeps her weak and tired.
My wife heard a lady’s encouraging testimony on how Plexus had helped her husband with his Parkinson’s so she convinced her mother to try it with her dad. From day one the results were remarkable, they both got a full nights sleep and it has been consistent for 2 weeks now. No more sundowners syndrome. His tremors have greatly diminished and he’s becoming his old self again.
I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in my neck 2 years ago. I took hydrocodone for a year before developing allergic reactions to it. Tried tramadol but it wasn’t very effective. Started taking Plexus about a year ago with almost immediate results, no neck pain or headaches. The ingredients and marketing method may be questionable to some but to me they are no worse then what the pharmaceutical industry is doing.
Jim, are you saying that Plexus Probios 5 reduced sundowners, parkinsons and your neck issues?
Tamie Tetley writes:
“What a bunch of haters!!! How rude can all of you be?”
Apparently you need to review some of the musings of Plexus’ Double Diamond Ambassador from North Texas. Talk to me about “haters” and “rude” after that.
Joe,
Thomas Carolyn Bryant is just another run-of-the mill Plexus ambassador who litters her Facebook page with ads du juor. She makes wild claims about how it helps with COPD, Autism, Kidney Stones, Fibromyalgia, etc.
She holds no relevant degree or specialty in the area of nutrition or the like. Its a good bet that all the info being credited to her is nothing more than cut & pasted babble from her upline.
Michael, thanks. I’d honestly never heard of the person before.
I am researching Plexus products as well. I see that you have some questions as to why certain things are in the ProBio5. When I asked an ambassador some similar questions, I was given some additional information and I am interested what your take on it would be. I was pointed to this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FS9bvCYGJQ
I was also given this information:
What Sets Pro Bio 5 Apart From Other Probiotics
By Thomas Carolyn Bryant on Saturday, August 9, 2014.
The ProBio 5 contains 2 billion CFUs. That number is less than others out there, however the quality of the strains is actually what is important and we have quality strains, PLUS ours has the antifungals and the
enzymes to break down the yeast.
When they created ours, they did it with the intent on helping to break down the yeast and that with the quality of the strains, the count is not as important. Our company wants to protect our products from being duplicated, which is why they do not put all of the information out there. But, the difference it has made for people is what convinces me that the number is not as important. A quality probiotic is a quality probiotic and ours is a great price for a quality one!
Why put enzymes in ProBio5? Yeast and fungal organisms are comprised of proteins, chitin, and cellulose structures. Proteins are broken down by protease enzymes, and cellulose is broken down by cellulase.
The chitin structure can only be processed in the presence of the chitinase (chitosinase) enzyme. The enzyme profile in ProBio5, which is micro encapsulated, is designed to process away the protein-based outer layer of yeast and fungal organisms. This then exposes the interior of these organisms to the cellulose of the chitosinase in the ProBio5. Enzymes are efficient and effective in the destruction of yeast and fungi.
ProBio5 Friendly Flora In addition to enzymes, ProBio5 contains very beneficial “friendly bacteria” that assists in supporting the body’s need for a balance of probiotics (micro flora) in the digestive tract. This “friendly bacteria” is delivered in a micro-encapsulation system to ensure that they reach their intended destination in the digestive tract to help rebuild the damage done by the yeast and fungi overgrowth.
Vitamin B6 The probiotics and enzymes in ProBio5 are assisted by the addition of vitamin B6. B6 is required by enzymes involved in protein metabolism and is also essential for red blood cell metabolism. In addition, vitamin B6 helps increase the amount of oxygen carried by the blood. A well oxygenated body is resistant to yeast and fungi.
Grape Seed Extract is one of the most powerful of the antioxidants that will fight free radicals. It is 20 times more powerful than vitamin C and 50 times stronger than vitamin E. Grape seed extract is a potent anti-viral,anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory substance. Grape seed extract has been extensively researched in universities around the world.
ProBio5 Probiotics Without sufficient probiotics, your body’s nutrient absorption is impaired; this can result in producing an environment that is supportive of yeasts and fungi growth. ProBio5 contains five powerful probiotics: Lactobacillus Sporogenes, L. Acidophilus, L. Plantarum, B. Longum and S. Boulardii.
Bacillus Sporogenes is a spore forming probiotic that is able to survive the manufacturing process and caustic stomach acid so it can establish itself in the intestinal tract. Bacillus Sporogenes requires no refrigeration; it has a 50 year history of safe use.
Bacillus Sporogenes produces the preferred form of lactic acid which is capable of releasing energy to resynthesize ATP without the involvement of oxygen and is called anaerobic glycolysis.
Lactobacillus — Lactobacilli are bacteria that normally live in the human small intestine and vagina. Lactobacillus Acidophilus is generally considered to be beneficial because it produces vitamin K, lactase, and anti-microbial
substances such as acidolin, acidolphilin, lactocidin, and bacteriocin.
L. Acidophilus — This is a powder form of the normal, friendly bacteria that live in our intestines (called flora). Taking acidophilus replenishes our bacterial flora and reduces overgrow of yeast, especially some bacteria which
grows well in an acid medium.
L. Planterum — is derived from sour dough and has been demonstrated to improve the recovery of patients with enteric bacterial infections. This bacterium adheres to reinforce the barrier function of the intestinal mucosa, thus preventing the attachment of the pathogenic bacteria to the intestinal wall.
B. Longum — One of the most important residents in the human gastrointestinal tract, B. Longum keeps the digestive system running smoothly, blocks the growth of harmful bacteria and boosts the immune system. The organism ferments sugars into lactic acid and has many health benefits for humans. It is often the dominant bacterium found in humans.
It is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, branched rod-shaped bacterium. Researchers have identified a number of proteins that are specialized to help B. Longum interact with the human host and persist against harmful bacteria. Future research will now look closely at which genes allow B. Longum to live in different environments such as dairy products, vegetables and the human gastrointestinal tract.
S. Boulardi — The intestinal micro flora are important for maturation of the immune system, the development of normal intestinal morphology, and in order to maintain a chronic and immunologically balanced inflammatory response. The micro flora reinforces the barrier function of the intestinal mucosa, helping in the prevention of the attachment of pathogenic microorganisms and the entry of allergens. Some members of the micro flora may contribute to the body’s requirements for certain vitamins, including biotin, pantothenic acid and vitamin B12.
Suggested Use: Take one capsule with evening meal or at bedtime for maintenance. Optional: Take two to four capsules with evening meal or at bedtime, until desired results are achieved.
Hi Kristen, I did watch the video. She does make some good points because there does appear to be a connection between the gut bacteria and our nervous system and also weight loss. It really is an interesting area of research. What I can say is that research also shows we can change our gut bacteria in about 2 weeks, just by eating better – no supplement required. Here are a few of videos from a non-profit organization that you might find helpful:
http://nutritionfacts.org/video/gut-flora-obesity/
http://nutritionfacts.org/video/fawning-over-flora/
http://nutritionfacts.org/video/prebiotics-tending-our-inner-garden/
the idea that plexus is about health and wellness started about a year ago. That’s when I started seeing ambassadors here saying that. prior to then, it was all about weight loss. Regardless, why not just do a study to see if Probios 5 does what they say? This would not be too hard to do. The company can afford to do this. That’s all I ask for. I’m not sure who Thomas Carolyn Bryant is.
Tammi
If you can show where anyone on this site that is ant-MLM, or anti-PS, has said they hated anyone please do so. The only thing you will find is a dislike for the way PS promotes their products. Most all ambassadors and the company are deceptive in one way or another. That is simply the way MLM operates. Do you realize how much money people lose each year, buying the lies of false claims of products, false claims of income, and testimonials that even the industry you so praise, calls worthless. Yes, I hate this, as I have seen people lose everything they owned, and put in debt up to their ears, chasing that elusive dream of wealth that MLM promises the people they recruit.
You, my friend are even being deceived on thinking you are saving money by just buying the products, and not being an ambassador. PS products are still extremely over priced, due to the fact that so many levels of the pyramid are being paid. You could actually buy similar products, that supposedly do the same as PS, at stores for pennies on a dollar.
Tammi, I don’t hate you, or anyone in MLM, just hate MLM. I actually feel sorry for you, because there is a very good chance you will be duped out of your hard earned money, and put into the category of the 99% who do.
Good luck!
I’ve found most probiotics are overpriced these days. I can provide Plexus ProBio5 to my family for less cost monthly as an ambassador than I can buy Culturelle over the counter.
That said, I’m an ambassador purely for the wholesale pricing. I’ve yet to sell to someone except myself, and I only buy the probiotic. I won’t push any other product until I’ve tried it myself, and I won’t even do that until I research it.
Between Plexus, ItWorks, JuicePlus, and other lines on the market, everyone claims to have the “miracle” pill or drink or product. Even as an ambassador for Plexus, I refuse to use those sales gimmicks and tricks. Again, I can give my family probiotics for less being an ambassador, so that’s what I do.
I don’t ever expect a free Lexus or expense paid trip to someplace warmer than here, but if I can pair less expensive probiotics with a balanced diet for my family, I’m cool with that.
It’s really strange that you speak about a “less expensive” probiotic when Plexus ProBio is anything but that. You do realize that you have to dump back in the cost of being an ambassador to your overall cost of the product, right? Also, the Plexus product is vastly inferior to other products on the market.
In addition to the company not disclosing where it sources its ingredients, they have also been shown to have issues with lead contamination in some of their products. I would urge you to depart from the “I get it cheaper” outlook if you’re going to be giving a probiotic supplement to your family and seek a better quality product.
Mary
Go to Wal-mart, or Walgreens and check out prices of Culturelle compared to Plexus Pro-Bio. Culturelle is about 1/2 or more less than ProBio. I saw Culturelle at Walgreens, one of the priciest outlets for about $18.00.
Mary, there is no way Plexus products can compete with products on the open market price wise. Just too many middlemen (ambs) involved, along with other issues that inflate the ridiculous prices.
Deborah
I respect the fact you are educated in the field of nursing, but you unfortunately are not educated in the field of MLM. If you were, you would not be involved in it. Therefore, in my opinion, you are a MLM simpleton.
Deborah, take the time to weigh-in on both sides of MLM, then make your decision to perform it. You’ll be glad you did. And, talking about the marketing side of PS is just as important as discussing the products.
Without talking the marketing of PS, it would be difficult to discuss what really drives the company, and that is recruitment, not the products.
Good luck!
On their website, Vsl-3 is described as a “medical food” (that was a new one for me) and must be used under “medical supervision.”
Thanks for the additional info regarding FDA. I’m curious if Vsl3 has undergone scrutiny as a “medical food.”
Deborah, I’ve heard the term medical food used before. This is something I’ll have to look further into. If you dig up anything, please do let me know.
What a bunch of haters!!! How rude can all of you be? You have your opinions and we respect them. Those of us that take Plexus. whether we are an Ambassador (some of us are Ambassadors, not to sell, just to get the better pricing) or note, we have our opinions. You may not be able to medically prove these claims, but the changes are happening to us and yes, it is incredible.
None of us are Drs., but we have lived in our bodies long enough to be tired of the illnesses, the medicines and the drs. visits. Go find something else worthy of your incredible hatred, abusing children, animals, child molesters, murderers, ISIS, Obama whatever…..None of us have ever tried to hate on you and I am sure none of you are perfect either…..
I just wanted to add, I am an RN with a BSN which I received 21 years ago (I think that means I’m officially middle aged, Oi!). I only say that because of some of the name calling I’ve seen in the comments. I’m neither uneducated nor a simpleton. Direct sales is simply another route of distribution. But this is a product review not business model review.
Deborah, I think I’m “middle aged” too 🙂
Hi there! Appreciated your review. I am a Plexus Ambassador and am searching out objective reviews of products. I think there aren’t many research studies done b/c the FDA does not approve or disprove supplements, as far as I am aware. Let me know if that is not the case.
I have a friend who is on a prescription strength probiotic so some study somewhere must have decided they were helpful if medical doctors are prescribing them. Do you also have a review of the probiotic VSL-3? I found your page when I was trying to research a comparison. Thank you! I’m not out to hoodwink anyone or scam anyone! From what I have seen in the lives of a few of my friends, these products have been beneficial and verified by their doctors.
Hi Deborah, thanks for the heads up on VSL-3. Ive honestly never heard of it but I did add it to my list of things to look at. Does VSL-3 probiotic need a prescription from a doctor or is it a dietary supplement?
Supplement companies usually dont have to go to the FDA before marketing the product to the public. The only exception I am aware of is if the product contains a new ingredient that has not been around prior to 1994 when the supplement law (DSHEA) went into effect.