Reviewed product: Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics

General score: 3/5 stars

Form of presentation: capsules

Serving dimensions: 13mm x 8mm

Cost: $36.25

Recommended dosage: 2 capsules/ day

Packaging content: 30 capsules

Daily cost: $2.41

Viability: through time of manufacturing

CFUs count: 900 million

Ingredients: 12 probiotic strains, including: Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophilus

Customer satisfaction: not guaranteed

Product category: daily usage probiotic

Where to buy: via the manufacturer’s main website

Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics General Review

At 3 stars out of 5, Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics appears to place itself as a slightly above average probiotic supplement, with both pros and cons to its name.

Firstly, this nutritional enhancer impresses through its administration type: by taking 1 capsule twice each day (on an empty stomach), you are to receive all the benefits which come with 12 individual strains of bacteria and 900 million CFUs (colony forming units).

This milder CFUs count – compared with other commercially distributed products, which contain up to 20-40 billion CFUs – ensures better organism adjustment to the supplement, at the same time still making a difference for the better inside the gastrointestinal tract itself.

Since the capsules are as small as they are (13mm x 8mm), you will most likely not have any problems getting them down.

Another great advantage of Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics is that, besides the 12 probiotic strains, the product also contains a proprietary formula of fermented cultures (fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, etc.) and acid blends.

As a result, these nutritional substances further promote intestinal wellbeing and pH readings, while the probiotics themselves help create a more stable microflora balance.

This is subsequently accomplished via a 100% vegetarian supplement, with no artificial flavours or similar chemicals included.

Furthermore, Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics behaves very well in the allergenic department by not containing any traces of nuts, peanuts, wheat (gluten), egg, fish and shellfish, milk and dairy or soybeans.

The capsules also do not require refrigeration throughout the usage period, which makes for a very practical and easy to carry around supplement.

On the other hand, Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics presents a couple of disadvantages which unfortunately cannot be overlooked in the long run.

Hence, the most obvious of these is the pricing: at more than $36 for a dosage equivalent to 15 days of administration, the present supplement reaches approximately $2.50 for each day of regular usage (2 capsules).

No matter how you take this price, it is extremely expensive for a probiotic supplement, which means that it should really be doing wonders for you in order to be worth the almost $73 you will end up spending monthly on this item alone.

To make matters worse, Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics contains traces of fermented soy, which can cause bad allergies to those individuals who are sensitive to this element to begin with. Not to mention that the present probiotic is not recommended for children.

As an overall view, it would seem that Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics excels in terms of probiotic count and type, additional nutrients, packaging format, and general allergy friendliness.

Even so, its highly elevated price range is not simple to overcome, nor is its allergenic potential with regards to fermented soy sensitiveness in particular.

This implies that you should really be content with Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics before further investing into it as your regular probiotic enhancer, otherwise you will end up spending your money on a pricey supplement that does not help you all that much in the first place.

Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics Ingredients list

• Bifidobacterium breve – is the ideal probiotic element to facilitate digestion, regularize bowel movement, and treat issues such as diarrhea and constipation episodes. Moreover, Bifidobacterium breve can protect the gastrointestinal tract against diseases like Candida and E. coli by acting as a powerful antimicrobial and anti-pathogen screener. Additionally, this ‘friendly’ bacterium has the same positive effects on lactose intolerance, microflora imbalances caused by antibiotic treatments, and regular fibre digestion.

• Bifidobacterium infantis – represents an antibacterial probiotic which generates improved digestive patterns by producing lactic acid and by boosting nutrient assimilation. Bifidobacterium infantis is also responsible with sustaining immunity through active pathogen screening and increased vitamin absorption, as well as general detoxification of the body and better response to outside factors which might otherwise be detrimental to overall health.

• Bifidobacterium longum – is a probiotic component renowned for its ability to significantly reduce the symptoms of lactose intolerance, thus leading to better nutrient absorption at the level of the gut and boosted immunity. In addition, Bifidobacterium longum can also act as an antimicrobial, anti-pathogen, and cholesterol-reducing factor.

• Enterococcus faecalis – although not that widely employed by probiotic manufacturers, this ‘good’ bacterium can help optimize gut microflora and achieve better nutrient assimilation (especially in the colon environment). This leads to overall improved health and the organism’s enhanced capacity to combat unwanted pathogens like viruses and fungi, for instance.

• Lactobacillus acidophilus – represents a ‘friendly’ bacterium aimed at producing lactic acid and, as a result, alleviating lactose intolerance symptoms, accelerating digestive processes, regularizing bowel motility, and boosting overall immunity protection. Furthermore, Lactobacillus acidophilus has the ability to protect the urinary and vaginal systems alike (by normalizing their specific microflora), reduce discomfort caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), combat intestinal irregularities such as constipation and diarrhea, etc.

• Lactobacillus brevis – is the beneficial bacterium which promotes both regular bowel movement and increased immune protection through its increased pH resistance along the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, it greatly helps in the case of individuals who struggle with lactose intolerance by simplifying digestion and nutrient absorption alike.  

• Lactobacillus bulgaricus – normally inhabits the stomach and intestinal lining of the human body, where it brings great digestive and immune benefits. For example, Lactobacillus bulgaricus acts as a powerful antimicrobial and pathogen screener by modifying pH levels in order to eliminate harmful microorganisms. What is more, research regarding this probiotic has demonstrated that it can even have anti-carcinogenic effects in time.

• Lactobacillus casei – constitutes a good addition when it comes to intestinal problems such as diarrhea (particularly the antibiotic-induced type), intestinal inflammation, pancreatic necrosis, etc. Its ability to combat intestinal permeability leads to fewer instances of abdominal discomfort, gas, and bloating, as well as increased immune screening against pathogens.

• Lactobacillus fermentum – with a high antibiotic and pH resistance, Lactobacillus fermentum has the capacity to reduce the occurrence of allergies, alleviate discomfort caused by irritable bowel syndrome, and lower bad cholesterol levels. Its antioxidative and antimicrobial properties further allow it to survive longer in the gastrointestinal system and hence act in a beneficial manner for longer periods of time.

• Lactobacillus helveticus – this lactic acid producing bacterium is generally employed in the manufacturing of various soft cheeses (parmesan, mozzarella, cheddar, etc.), particularly because of its probiotic characteristics. In turn, these generate optimized digestive patterns, help avoid the installation of diarrhea and/ or constipation, fight off pathogens, reduce cholesterol readings, highly boost immunity defence, etc.

• Lactobacillus plantarum – extended studies conducted by specialists in this field have concluded that Lactobacillus plantarum is a highly resistant and essential probiotic inside the gut. As a consequence, its positive influence regarding overall health includes regularized bowel activity, recovery following extended antibiotic treatments, boosted microflora, elevated immunity, and stabilized moods.

• Streptococcus thermophilus – is a naturally occurring ‘good’ bacterium that – despite its peculiar sounding name – brings numerous positive contributions to the organism’s proper functioning. Amongst these we can thus find the alleviation of diarrhea episodes, leaky gut syndrome, and IBS symptoms, keeping the vaginal and urinary systems working normally (by protecting them against various infections), maintaining immune response at optimal levels, etc.

Alongside this complex probiotic composition, Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics also contains a proprietary fermented culture (mushrooms, fruits, vegetables, seaweed, etc), a proprietary organic acid blend (lactic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, and formic acid), mountain spring water, safflower oil, beeswax, lecithin, and tapioca for the capsules (obtained from Manihot utilissima root, glycerin, carrageenan, and caramel colour).

Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics Allergenic Potential

One major advantage that Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics presents is that it behaves very friendly with regards to allergy concerns.

As mentioned on the packaging, this probiotic supplement does not contain milk and dairy by-products, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, gluten (wheat), soybeans, peanuts or tree nuts.

Moreover, the Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics blend is also 100% vegetarian, free of chemicals, additives, and GMOs (genetically modified organisms).

On the other hand, Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics is specified to contain fermented soy, which can constitute a problem for those who are either allergic or sensitive to this substance in particular.

Hence, those individuals who are aware of any such negative behaviour towards fermented soy should best avoid using this probiotic supplement on a day to day basis.

Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics Overall Cost

There is no way around this problem: overall, Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics is a very expensive probiotic supplement according to today’s standards for this sort of items. At $36.25 for a blister format packaging containing 30 capsules, this 2 capsules per day probiotic reaches a whopping $2.41 for each routine administration dosing.

Compare this to the average $1 cost − which even nutritionists consider to be the threshold after which supplements can be considered as ‘pricy’ − and you will quickly understand how disadvantageous Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics is from a monetary point of view.

To make matters worse, the double capsule administration recommended daily makes for a standard packaging of the product to last only half a month (15 days), which would ultimately bring one month’s worth of dosing to a value of $72.5.

If you become completely satisfied with the probiotic and are willing to pay this obviously high amount for it, then go ahead – otherwise, you should definitely be on the lookout for similar, yet cheaper alternatives.

Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics Side effects

Beginning the administration of probiotic supplements is always a tricky business because it actually involves creating an initial bacterial imbalance in order to then put the foundation of better bowel motility and intestinal health.

Taking this aspect into consideration, it stands to be noted that Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics produced some unpleasant side effects during the first few days of usage.

These symptoms involved abdominal discomfort and stomach cramping, but were not so strong as to be considered unbearable; as they subsided after 2-3 days, it really did feel like the supplement began working.

Even so, you should also be aware that the packaging for Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics specifies the following: the probiotics in this enhancer can initially induce issues like episodes of constipation, minor to medium bloating, and laxative effects.

They are said to be the ‘proof’ that your organism has started to become detoxified and assimilating the new probiotic count introduced from the outside.

This does not mean that you should be in pain though, so be sure to ease into the administration of this probiotic.

As a result, caution is advised (especially if you are a more sensitive individual), with any symptom lasting longer than 10 days requiring a doctor’s immediate consultation.

Manufacturer guarantee

Unfortunately, Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics does not specifically mention any type of customer guarantee on the packaging or the company’s official site.

This means that, upon buying one such product, you do not have the possibility to return it and get your money back if it turns out that you are unsatisfied with your experience with the supplement.

In addition, Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics only ensures bacterial viability through the time of manufacturing, which means that the microorganisms inside the capsules might or might not be alive by the time they hit your gastrointestinal system. As you can probably guess, these two aspects are a definite drawback to the product’s overall quality.

Where to Buy Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics?

Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics can be acquired through the company’s official website.

Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics – General View

Category	Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics
General rating	3/5 stars
Recommended usage	Daily usage probiotic enhancer
Ingredients	12 probiotic strains, 900 million CFUs
Allergenic potential	Fermented soy traces
Cost	$36.25 (30 capsules)
Side effects	Abdominal discomfort and stomach cramps
Manufacturer guarantee(s)	Not specified
Purchasing	Via the manufacturer’s main website