Reviewed product: Dr. David Williams Probio Serene

General score: 3 ½ / 5 stars

Form of presentation: powder

Serving dimensions: not available/ applicable

Cost: $39.99

Recommended dosage: 1 sachet/ day

Package content: 1.5 oz (45g)/ 30 sachets

Daily cost: $1.33

Viability: through end of shelf life

CFUs count: 3 billion

Ingredients: 2 probiotic strains: Bifidobacterium longum Rosell-175 and Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52

Customer satisfaction: guaranteed

Product category: daily usage probiotic

Purchasing: via the manufacturer’s main website

General review

Dr. David Williams Probio Serene totals at a pretty impressive 3 ½ stars out of a maximum of 5 stars, which makes it a good and reliable probiotic supplement. Firstly, its unique packaging format comprises of 30 individual plastic sachets filled with probiotic powder; although probiotics come in all shapes and sizes – from capsules and tablets to drops and various blends – the powder version usually comes in a jar or bottle from which you have to measure your own dosages before mixing the up with water or fruit juice. With Dr. David Williams Probio Serene, there is no need for all of that: you simply have to open a sachet, dissolve it in your mouth, and you are done for the day! No shakes, no several servings per day – and having a meal with this probiotic intake is optional too!

Needless to say, this aspect makes the product very easy to use and carry around when needed. Some people might need a bit of time at first adjusting to the taste – since the powder itself comes across as chalky and rather unpleasant – but you can quickly accommodate to the flavour and not dislike the habit of having to take this supplement every day. The product itself should presumably taste like grape or plum, but I personally did not feel any of these flavours as being considerably strong when taking the probiotic.

Another great advantage to Dr. David Williams Probio Serene is that, unlike other commercially distributed nutritional enhancers, there is no need for refrigeration in order to keep the microorganisms alive and effective. In fact, the company also offers a guarantee in this sense by specifying that their cultures are ‘viable through end of shelf life’. What does this mean? Well, in normal terms, it signifies that each satchel will be as fresh and effective as the previous one, with active and living bacteria inhabiting the item until its expiration date.

Speaking of guarantees: Dr. David Williams Probio Serene has the very good benefit of being covered by a 100% money back guarantee. Thus, if you are not satisfied with the product’s outcomes related to your health and wellbeing, then you can return your remaining packaging to the company and they will send you a complete refund, no questions asked.  While other companies only keep this offer for 30 days from the moment of purchase, Dr. David Williams Probio Serene gives you a 90 days policy in this sense, which is more than enough time to decide whether or not you are happy with the product in question.

On the other hand, Dr. David Williams Probio Serene does have its disadvantages too – for instance, it cannot offer you complete anti-allergenic support because it does specify that it contains both soy and milk in its composition. More than that, the present probiotic can be rightfully considered as expensive: at almost $40 for one month’s worth of supply, the 2 strain and 3 billion CFUs (colony forming units) supplement does not immediately justify its pricing. This becomes even more obvious when dividing the value by packaging content, which brings us at a whopping $1.33 per daily dosage.

All in all, Dr. David Williams Probio Serene appears to have more pros than cons to its advantage, with an unique presentation format being followed by an extended shelf life, good probiotic blend, customer guarantees, and a practical side as well (because it does not require refrigeration). Even so, the supplement presents allergenic potential – the occurrence of soy and milk traces – and it is significantly more expensive than your average nutrient enhancer of a similar probiotic kind. Nevertheless, if you can look past these couple of drawbacks, then Dr. David Williams Probio Serene is the ideal probiotic for you too.

Detailed description

Ingredient list

As previously mentioned, Dr. David Williams Probio Serene relies on 2 main probiotic strains in order to achieve its 3 billion CFUs count. These are Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum, two extremely well-known and appreciated ‘friendly’ bacteria.

As you can tell by the name, Lactobacillus helveticus is part of the Lactobacillus family, one of the most renowned and studied such genus of probiotics. The members of this group are linked by the common attribution of being able to transform various sugars and lactose into lactic acid, thus appropriately receiving the name of ‘lactic acid bacteria group’.

One consequence of this characteristic is that the Lactobacillus helveticus probiotic is commercially employed to create specific cheeses such as Emmental, American Swiss, Romano, Mozzarella, Cheddar, and many others. This specific ‘friendly’ bacterium has the ability to enhance the flavour of cheese and reduce any form of bitterness in the final product. In addition, it is also used in several versions of powdered milk, fermented milk, and, as is the case here, dietary supplements.

Lactobacillus helveticus displays a number of positive benefits related to gut health and motility – firstly, it considerably diminishes the symptoms of lactose intolerance, reduces pathogen occurrence at the level of the gastrointestinal system, and significantly decreases the chances of developing episodes of diarrhea. Moreover, this ‘good’ bacterium also has the ability to protect and boost immunity by behaving as an active screener against harmful microorganisms, being an anti-tumorigenic and anti-mutagenic, keeping gut flora at optimal readings, etc. Besides its antimicrobial and immunomodulator properties, Lactobacillus helveticus can survive for extended periods of time inside the stomach, intestine, and colon alike, where it promotes healthy digestion, proper nutrient assimilation, and general wellbeing (reducing blood pressure, ensuring proper calcium and mineral density within the bones, etc.).

The second main probiotic of Dr. David Williams Probio Serene, Bifidobacterium longum, is also a highly recommended and essential ‘friendly’ bacterium when it comes to digestive health and immunity control. As a consequence, this particular microorganism type is one of the 32 Bifidobacterium subdivisions and represents one of the first such probiotics to start inhabiting our gastrointestinal system as infants. Although not very numerous at the level of the gut, it has been declared by specialists as one of the most valuable such microorganisms in light of its contributions to gut motility, antimicrobial screening, and mood regulation.

Amongst the functions of Bifidobacterium longum we can find the production of lactic acid, which ultimately facilitates food digestion and relieves the effects of lactose intolerance for those who suffer from it. By acting as an anti-pathogen, Bifidobacterium longum drastically reduces both the occurrence of diarrhea episodes (especially that caused by prolonged antibiotic treatments), as well as that of illnesses and diseases. These positive influences include lowering cholesterol readings, having an antioxidative effect, and preventing the chances of stroke and arthrosclerosis.

Furthermore, Bifidobacterium longum has been shown to alleviate symptoms caused by Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) such as inflammation, abdominal discomfort, and irregular bowel movement. More recent studies even suggest that Bifidobacterium longum can extend its properties beyond the intestinal environment by both preventing tumours from being created and by significantly reducing the spreading of cancer throughout the organism.

All in all, through supplementation via fermented foods, dairy products or commercial supplements, this probiotic seems to be the answer to a multitude of problems. From allergies, Crohn’s disease, and colitis to constipation and even cancer, Bifidobacterium longum can really help either meliorate or eliminate completely some of these health issues.

Allergenic potential

In general, probiotic supplements try to direct their blend composition more towards the live bacteria aspect, with as little fillers and artificial additives as possible. This makes them both more appealing for the public and less at risk of developing any potential side effects. Unfortunately, Dr. David Williams Probio Serene is far from being allergy friendly because, as mentioned on the packaging, this nutritional enhancer contains both milk and soy.

The result of this specification is that those who suffer from lactose intolerance or are sensitive to soy can end up exhibiting unwanted symptoms, regardless of whether these two elements are present only as traces within the product or not. However, Dr. David Williams Probio Serene is marketed as being gluten-free, which can be considered a sort of ‘compensation’ in this category.

Other ingredients present in this probiotic powder are xylitol (a sweetener), maltodextrin (additive), malic acid, and plum flavour.

Overall cost

When purchasing Dr. David Williams Probio Serene, you will receive 30 powder sachets for the price of $39.99. By further splitting this sum into daily dosages, the total price of one individual sachet (and, by extension, of a day’s worth of probiotics) is that of $1.33.

In terms of how probiotic ‘economics’ work, the consensus amongst nutritionists is that anything above $1/ day can be considered as expensive. Dr. David Williams Probio Serene obviously surpasses this limit by quite a bit, which is not very advantageous, more so in light of the fact that one packaging quantity will only last you for a month of administration.

Although a much cheaper price would always be welcomed, it is up to you to decide whether this cost-effect ratio is overall acceptable and convenient in your particular case. Nevertheless, Dr. David Williams Probio Serene seems to be ‘worth the money’ with regards to its efficiency and overall profile.

Side effects

One of the most exciting aspects of Dr. David Williams Probio Serene is that it does not cause any significant side effects. This may be a consequence of the supplement’s moderate probiotic content: if other commercially distributed nutrient enhancers of the same type usually contain between 15-35 billion CFUs, Dr. David Williams Probio Serene uses only 3 billion CFUs. Hence, it is much more easily accepted by the organism, while still giving you all the benefits that these ‘good’ microorganisms create within the gut.

As the instructions on the packaging advise, you are to take a sachet of product each day by dissolving it into your mouth, with or without a meal (it is your personal choice). As with any dietary change, a doctor’s consultation is recommended, but especially for pregnant or nursing mothers. To prevent any undesired outcomes, stick to the recommended dosing and consult with a specialist if any serious symptoms occur in time. Keep the product in a cool and dry place.

Manufacturer guarantee

When it comes to probiotic supplements, manufacturer guarantees are always important and very welcomed for buyers. As such, the company supporting Dr. David Williams Probio Serene does indeed promote a 100% ‘money back’ policy. What does this mean for you, as a buyer? Well, it implies that, in the unfortunate event that you are not satisfied with the product, you can return the packaging and receive a refund in full. Even better, you can do this within 90 days, as opposed to the more generally implemented period of 30 days.

In addition to this, there is also the product guarantee offered by Dr. David Williams Probio Serene, namely that the live bacteria cultures will stay as such until the expiration date is reached. In simpler terms, the first and last powder dosage you take from one packaging should have the same efficiency. The ‘viable through end of shelf life’ mentioning is crucial for probiotics, particularly since other brands only ensure their product’s viability only until manufacturing time.

Purchasing

Dr. David Williams Probio Serene can be easily acquired through the company’s official website.

Dr. David Williams Probio Serene – general view

Category	Dr. David Williams Probio Serene
General rating	3 ½ / 5 stars
Recommended usage	Daily usage probiotic
Ingredients	2 probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus helveticus)
Allergenic potential	The product contains both soy and milk
Cost	$39.99 for one month’s worth of product (30 sachets)
Side effects	No noteworthy side effects
Manufacturer guarantee(s)	100% ‘money-back’ guarantee within 90 days
Purchasing	Via the manufacturer’s main website