How does Yakult compare to other probiotic supplements?
Yakult is a fermented milk drink with one named strain, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Shirota, not a capsule. Its own pages give 6.5 billion per 65 mL bottle in Australia and 20 billion in the UK. The NHS says probiotic products differ and evidence for many claims is weak.
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Yakult vs Actimel: what do the labels say?
| Yakult Original (UK) | Actimel Original (UK) | |
|---|---|---|
| Strain named | L. casei Shirota | L. casei Danone |
| Bacteria | 20 billion per bottle | 20 billion L. casei cultures (per bottle not stated) |
| Sugars | 8.8 g per bottle (13.6 g per 100 mL) | 9.4 g per 100 g |
| Energy | 43 kcal per bottle (66 per 100 mL) | 66 kcal per 100 g |
Yakult’s bottle is about 65 mL (the UK page implies it); Actimel’s page does not give a bottle size, so we cannot compare per bottle. Yakult Australia states 6.5 billion per 65 mL bottle, so counts differ by country.
Is Yakult a probiotic?
Yakult Australia says its Shirota strain meets the World Health Organization definition of a probiotic. It also says Yakult is not a yogurt but a fermented milk drink, and that it contains sugar.
How does it compare with probiotic pills?
Yakult’s pages do not compare it with supplements. The NHS says probiotics are regulated as food, so you cannot always be sure a product contains the bacteria on the label, enough of them, or that they arrive alive in the gut. It adds that little is known about which strains work best and a strain that helps one condition may not help another.
Do probiotics work?
The NHS says evidence is limited: some suggests probiotics may ease irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, and for many other claims it is weak. If you have a health condition or a weakened immune system, speak to a doctor first.
We did not open official pages for Activia, Inner Health Plus or Symprove, so we do not compare them.
People also ask
Is Yakult a probiotic?
Yakult Australia says its Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Shirota strain meets the WHO definition of a probiotic.
Which is better, Actimel or Yakult?
We found no official comparison. Both list one L. casei strain and about 20 billion cultures in the UK; Yakult has 8.8 g sugars per bottle and Actimel 9.4 g per 100 g.
Does Yakult have more probiotics than yogurt or pills?
No official source compares them. The NHS says probiotic content and strains vary between products and are not tested like medicines.
Sources
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