Is Probiotic “Align” Really Mis-Aligned?

December 15, 2010

Recently, a representative of Procter & Gamble (PG) offered to me FREE samples (plus a purchase discount) of Align probiotic for my patients and blog readers.

Here is the quote from the e-mail I received:

“…Procter & Gamble is offering a deal where you can get $10 dollars back when you buy
$30 worth of any two or more of our GI (Gastrointestinal) brands…”, and later “…include in your post/review that Procter & Gamble is providing you with free samples of Align”.

Well, so far so good, right? I respect Procter & Gamble, a huge 170-years old company with tremendous resources. Plus, so heavily advertized Align probiotic has already caught my attention earlier.

Probitiotics are live, naturally-occurring microorganisms that promote healthy digestion, boost the immune system & contribute to general health & well-being. However, for people with impaired digestion choosing a right probiotic can be a confusing, choosing a wrong one can be dangerous.

Therefore, before jumping with both feet on such lucrative proposition, my professional reflex of clinically trained Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist has taken control.  And, as I’ve been doing for the last 25 years with ALL the products I recommend to my patients and use myself, I’ve decided to go through a routine “nutritional ingredient analysis” of the product.

I have been somewhat surprised with the results of the analysis. Read for yourself.

Align Ingredients: Probiotic strain: Bifantis (Bifidobacterium infantis 35624), 1 x 109 colony-forming units (1 billion) (4 mg), microcrystalline cellulose (for even dispersal of cultures), hypromellose (vegetarian capsule shell),sugar, magnesium stearate (for even dispersal of cultures), milk protein, titanium dioxide, sodium citrate dihydrate, propyl gallate (antioxidant stabilizer), FD&C blue #1, riboflavin (colorant)

The Good News: Bifidobacterium infantis 35624

Align probiotic was developed by Procter & Gamble, a huge company with tremendous resources. They have been around for over 170 years.

Align was formulated with the Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 bacteria strain. In a 2009 review of scientific studies on IBS probiotic treatment, Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 showed significant improvement in the composite score for abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating/distention, and/or bowel movement difficulty. Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 has been shown to prevent invasion of the gut lining by one of the bacteria thought to be responsible for inflammatory bowel conditions such as IBS and reduced inflammation in the gut. (1)

The Bad News:

A properly designed probiotic is supposed to work with your body, not against it. For people with impaired digestion and sensitive gut even small doses of potentially dangerous additives and fillers can diminish positive effect of a good bacteria in any probiotic. Here is what have been added to the good bacteria in Align:

1) Sugar

This is public enemy #1.  Sugar suppresses the immune system and can cause gas and bloating in people with chronic yeast infections, IBS/IBD and Celiac disease. Marketing a ‘breakthrough’ probiotic containing sugar is backwards logic!

2) Magnesium Stearate

I learned during my visits to few supplement manufacturing facilities that magnesium stearate is used as a lubricating agent for equipment used in manufacturing capsules and other dietary supplements. Magnesium stearate ensures supplement production at a faster rate, and prevents the ingredients in capsules sticking to various parts of the machines used in manufacturing. Can supplement be manufactured without magnesium stearate? The answer is YES. But it will take longer time to manufacture the same product thereby making it more expensive. In addition, individuals with sensitive digestive system might have a problem with absorption of supplements containing magnesium stearate. (2)

Czap, AL. Townsend Letter For Doctors and Patients, July 1999, Vol.192;Pg. 117-119.

3) Titanium Dioxide

Over the years I have consumed a lot of nutritional supplements; therefore, after reading numerous nutritional labels I have realized that titanium dioxide powder is a popular ingredient used in supplement manufacturing. So, I wondered: “ What is Titanium Dioxide? Am I eating a metal”? According to European Commission Environment “titanium dioxide pigment is a white powder with high opacity and brilliant whiteness. These properties have made it a valuable pigment for a broad range of applications in paints, plastic good, inks and paper. Titanium dioxide is also used in many white products including food, cosmetics, UV skin protection”. So, vitamin manufacturing companies use this titanium dioxide powder to make our supplements to look white and pretty. There is no added health benefit for ingesting titanium dioxide except if you want to admire your supplement pill on your dinner plate. Furthermore, titanium dioxide has recently been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as an IARC Group 2B carcinogen ”possibly carcinogen to humans’’ when inhaled. I think, we can do just fine without eating titanium dioxide. (3)

4) Propyl Gallate

This is a preservative used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling. It has been classified as a “xenoestrogen” — a substance with estrogen-like effects that is stirring international health concerns. “Xenoestrogens have been linked to a range of human health effects, including reduced sperm counts in men and increased risk of breast cancer in women”. (4)

5) Artificial Color FD&C Blue #1

FD &C Blue #1 is so toxic that FDA (Food and Drug Administration) have issued a warning to healthcare professionals about its toxicity including death in patients receiving enteral feeding (introduction of liquid food through a tube inserted into intestine. (5)

Why would P&G add such a toxic coloring to its probiotic remains a mystery to me.

Conclusion

In my opinion, Align is somewhat missing the mark, and especially so for people with impaired digestion and GI problems. The potentially harmful additives and fillers included in the product could produce negative effect. That is probably why there are over twenty comments/posts on the Amazon site talk about negative effects of Align for some people.

On a positive note, the good bacteria of Align does work in your gut, provided you are not sensitive to the coloring and the fillers. Also, P&G have done a really good job in manufacturing their products from 100% recyclable materials.

As always, I am just delivering the message. To take or not to take Align is ultimately YOUR choice.

Best of Health,

Galina

1. Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 in IBS

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/46998.php

2. Magnesium Stearate

Czap, AL. Townsend Letter For Doctors and Patients, July 1999, Vol.192;Pg. 117-119

3. Titanium Dioxide

https://www.ccohs.ca/headlines/text186.html

4. Propyl Gallate

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/titanium.htm

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090302125924.htm

5. FD&C Blue #1 FDA – Public Health Advisory

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm169530.htm

14 Responses

  1. What Probiotic is a good one to take? The Doctor said I have Gastritis or a Ulcer. what would be a good Probiotic to take.
    Thanks .

  2. Good breakdown Galina. I feel like rarely do people look carefully at ingredients and then do the research to find out what is actually being consumed and what problems it can cause.

    Funny enough, I just went looking for a new Gastro, told him I was on the SCD, and he gave me these probiotics with sugar and other processed ingredients and chemicals.

    How is it possible that Gastroenterologists almost never associate food intake with GI health or are sensitive to these issues?

  3. Hi Amit,
    You are asking a great question: “How is it possible that Gastroenterologists almost never associate food intake with GI health or are sensitive to these issues?”
    I will make a blog post to explain this disturbing fact of life.
    For more unique GI related information please subscribe to our Free newsletter at http://knowyourgut.com
    Be Well,
    Galina

  4. what probiotic do you recommend that will have the good affects of align but not the bad ingredients??? my dr. just told me it is one of four with the most research done to have the greatest affect on stomach bloat and gas

  5. I have been taking the Lady Soma Probiotics for about 1 year now and I can’t belive the difference it makes in my digestive health! My OB/GYM reccomended Lady Soma. I have had stomach/instestinal problems my whole life and I have diagnosed with IBS. since taking the probiotics I have seen alot of improvement.

  6. Is it possible that Align could cause excessive itching……..with no indication of rash.

  7. Hi Esther,
    Since you have not described the exact area which is affected by itching, and I don’t know your full medical history, I cannot answer your question properly.
    For further information on probiotics, please subscribe to our free newsletter at http://www.knowyourgut.com
    Galina

  8. Happy to see this article. I share your skeptical view of Align. Additionally, P&G is
    not a company I trust. They have Big Pharm and Chemical agendas and ties. . .
    Align used to claim on their label that they were Gluten Free. They no longer do so
    but now include a disclaimer that the product can not be guaranteed allergen
    free ( gluten, soy) because they no longer do “testing”
    Having been a daily consumer of this product for over 4.5 years, I can attest that
    once the “testing” ceased my ability to do well with this product became compromised
    until eventually I was to the point that all of my IBS symptoms returned with a
    vengeance. It took me a while to link this with Align since I was unaware (like most
    consumers) that they no longer guaranteed the absence of allergens. I am profoundly
    celiac. My Herpetiformis Dermatitis (gluten rash) returned (6 seperate rash sites)
    and I was unable to digest any food whatsoever. This is no coincidence.
    I am now on the Natren probiotic with Bifidus Infantis and, thank God, completely
    healed again. Natren is truly legit and the care and transparency of their manufacturing
    is one consumers deserve and should demand.
    The word needs to get out about ALIGN. They are harming innocent, unsuspecting people.

  9. Dear Priscilla,
    Thank you for sharing your personal experience with probiotics! It just confirms AGAIN my personal and clinical experience.
    Galina

  10. Thank you for your article. I was just doing research on if it would truly help my daughter or not and came across your article. I won’t be giving it to her.

  11. Last night I took my first align and was extremely sick all night with stomach issues including lower back pain. I’m doing a little better now but still pretty queasy! Something in the align made me sick. I will never take it again! Thanks for the article.

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