What happens if probiotics are not refrigerated

Generally, most supplement manufacturers say on the label whether probiotics are shelf stable or require refrigeration. Another way to determine whether you should refrigerate your probiotics is to consider how they were stored upon purchase. For example, probiotics that require refrigeration are typically found in the refrigerated section of the store or pharmacy. Most probiotic supplements provide storage instructions on the label.

Probiotics that are stored in the refrigerated section of the store or shipped with an ice pack may also require refrigeration. For starters, be sure to read the label carefully and practice proper storage by following the directions provided. Unlike pill bottles that are frequently opened and closed, blister packs protect individual capsules from exposure to heat and humidity, which can ultimately extend their shelf life. While the expiration date varies between products, most shelf-stable probiotics should be used within 1—2 years.

Practicing proper storage techniques, keeping capsules in a blister pack, and using probiotics before the expiration date can help maximize their shelf life. Certain types of probiotics are more resistant to heat and environmental factors than others. Be sure to check the label for instructions on how to store your supplement, and use some of the tips outlined above to maximize the shelf life.

Probiotics can improve your health. Learn how taking probiotics can benefit weight loss, heart health, digestion, immune function and more. Probiotics are microorganisms that provide a health benefit when consumed. Here's everything you need to know about probiotics. As far as efficacy goes, you're getting probiotic benefits with either option. The reason some probiotics need refrigeration and others don't mainly comes down to the fact that different strains of probiotics have different sensitivity levels, and not all strains can be freeze-dried—the process used to make them shelf-stable—successfully.

Some probiotic bacteria, like Lactobacillus delbrueckii , are highly sensitive to certain processing methods , like freeze-drying, while others, like Lactobacillus paracasei and spore-forming strains like Bacillus , come out live and ready to populate your gut on the other side. While you might assume that refrigerated probiotics contain fewer additives, this isn't true in all cases.

Pedre recommends checking your labels to make sure whatever probiotics you choose are free of additives. Refrigeration may also create a barrier to taking probiotics in the first place, says Bindiya Gandhi, M. For example, if you travel a lot, it can be difficult to carry around a heat-sensitive bottle of probiotics wherever you go, so you're more likely to just leave it behind instead.

While you don't have to refrigerate shelf-stable probiotics, there are some things you can do to make them last longer:. These tips helps maintain a safe temperature and protects the probiotics from their two major enemies: heat and moisture.

Like all living things, probiotics eventually die—or expire—at some point. And because probiotics need to be alive to work , considering the expiry date of your probiotics is especially important. When looking at a probiotic supplement, you'll see that each one contains a specific number of organisms per capsule.

For example, one probiotic may have 5 billion colony-forming units or CFUs per dose, while another has 25 billion CFUs. But, as Pedre points out, those numbers only represent what's in the capsule up to their expiration. After that, the probiotic numbers go down and the supplement becomes less effective over time. While this is true no matter how you store your probiotics, the less closely you follow the storage instructions, the more quickly it happens.

For example, if your probiotic calls for refrigeration but you leave it out on the counter in the middle of the summer, the heat and moisture from humidity can kill some, or all, of the bacteria, even before the expiration date. If your probiotic doesn't have an expiration or best-by date, most supplements including probiotics are formulated to last at least two years beyond the manufacturing date check the bottom of the bottle.

If you like your probiotic, you'll probably use it well before two years though. Refrigerated probiotics aren't superior to the shelf-stable options out there. What's most important is that you choose a high-quality probiotic and store it according to the manufacturer's instructions. If your probiotic calls for refrigeration, keeping it cold keeps the bacteria alive. If your probiotic is shelf-stable, you don't have to put it in the refrigerator, but proper storage techniques can help improve the odds that the bacteria live to their best-by date.

You are now subscribed Be on the lookout for a welcome email in your inbox! Main Navigation. Log in Profile. Saved Articles. Thanks for signing up! Whether or not probiotics need to be refrigerated depends on the type of strains used in the probiotic. Common elements such as heat, moisture, oxygen, and light impact the survivability of certain probiotic species.

From the moment a probiotic is manufactured, most types of bacteria begin the natural dying off process, which needs to be taken into account by the manufacturer. This way the product can remain viable and the bacteria can survive all the above-mentioned phases as well as the phase of ingestion and traveling through the intestinal tract into the small intestine.

Here they begin to colonize and take effect. Common strains, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, for example, are very fragile to light, moisture, heat, and oxygen. However, SBO soil-based organism probiotics are more naturally resistant. Otherwise, the bacteria die before they reach the small intestine, where they perform their work, and you will not derive the full benefit. While many bacteria require refrigeration, products that contain freeze-dried organisms and are in packaging to prevent moisture generally do not require refrigeration.

One is not necessarily better or worse. The key is choosing a probiotic that has been tested for efficacy and engineered in a way that is effective for the bacteria to remain stable and alive. During the manufacturing and storage of a probiotic, contact with heat and moisture can be detrimental to some delicate bacteria.