Each capsule contains: Bifidobacterium bifidum 1.6 billion CFU • Bifidobacterium breve 800 million CFU • Bifidobacterium longum 160 million CFU • Lactobacillus acidophilus 400 million CFU • Lactobacillus casei 240 million CFU • Lactobacillus rhamnosus 4.8 billion CFU. Other Ingredients: Ascorbic Acid, Hypromellose, Magnesium Stearate, Methacrylic Acid Copolymer, Polyethylene Glycol, Potato Starch, Propylene Glycol, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Citrate, Talc, Titanium Dioxide.
Brand name products often contain multiple ingredients. To read detailed information about each ingredient, click on the link for the individual ingredient shown above.
In 2004, Canada began regulating natural medicines as a category of products separate from foods or drugs. These products are officially recognized as "Natural Health Products." These products include vitamins, minerals, herbal preparations, homeopathic products, probiotics, fatty acids, amino acids, and other naturally derived supplements.
In order to be marketed in Canada, natural health products must be licensed. In order to be licensed in Canada, manufacturers must submit applications to Health Canada including information about uses, formulation, dosing, safety, and efficacy.
Products can be licensed based on several criteria. Some products are licensed based on historical or traditional uses. For example, if an herbal product has a history of traditional use, then that product may be acceptable for licensure. In this case, no reliable scientific evidence is required for approval.
For products with non-traditional uses, some level of scientific evidence may be required to support claimed uses. However, a high level of evidence is not necessarily required. Acceptable sources of evidence include at least one well-designed, randomized, controlled trial; well-designed, non-randomized trials; cohort and case control studies; or expert opinion reports.
Finished products licensed by Health Canada must be manufactured according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) as outlined by Health Canada.
Below is general information about the effectiveness of the known ingredients contained in the product Primadophilus Fortify. Some ingredients may not be listed. This information does NOT represent a recommendation for or a test of this specific product as a whole.
INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
Below is general information about the safety of the known ingredients contained in the product Primadophilus Fortify. Some ingredients may not be listed. This information does NOT represent a recommendation for or a test of this specific product as a whole.
LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately. Bifidobacterium lactis has been safely used alone or in combination with other probiotics in clinical trials lasting up to 12 weeks (92255,98502,105158,107572,107581,107586,110979,110985,110986,110992)(110993,110998,110999).
CHILDREN: LIKELY SAFE
when used orally and appropriately in children of most ages.
Bifidobacterium lactis has been safely used alone or in combination with other probiotics in infants and children for up to 15 months (3169,3458,92265,95381,95382,98736,105149,107582,107583,107585)(107587,107590,110984,110987,110988,110991,110994,110995). A combination probiotic containing B. lactis and Lactobacillus acidophilus (HOWARU Protect, Danisco) has been used safely for up to 6 months in children aged 3-5 years (16847). A specific combination of B. lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and L. acidophilus (Complete Probiotic Platinum) has also been used safely for up to 18 months in children aged 4 months to 5 years (103436). In addition, in children ages 4-17 years, 1 billion CFUs of a 1:1:1 combination of B. lactis CECT 8145, Lacticasebacillus casei CECT 9104, and Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347 has been used safely for 12 weeks (107531). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of B. lactis in preterm infants with a birth weight under 1000 grams. Cases of bacteremia have occurred rarely in preterm infants given other probiotics (102416,111610,111612,111613,111850,111852,111853). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about cases of serious infections caused by probiotics reported in very preterm or very low birth weight infants under 1000 grams (111610). Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not support the routine administration of probiotics to these infants due to conflicting data on safety and efficacy (111608).
PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available.
A meta-analysis of four clinical trials shows that taking probiotics during pregnancy increases the relative risk of pre-eclampsia by 85% when compared with placebo. Although the specific effects of Bifidobacterium lactis are unclear from this analysis, three of the included studies used B. lactis in combination with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (105185). More information is needed to determine if certain patients are at increased risk.
LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately. Bifidobacterium bifidum has been safely used alone or in combination with other probiotics in clinical trials lasting up to one year (1731,12775,14338,92255,107580,110972,110974,110978). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of non-viable, heat-killed B. bifidum formulations when used orally.
CHILDREN: LIKELY SAFE
when used orally and appropriately in children of most ages.
Bifidobacterium bifidum has been safely used alone or in combination with other probiotics in clinical trials in infants and children for up to 18 months (161,90286,90602,98736,103436,110971,110976,110924). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of B. bifidum in preterm infants with a birth weight under 1000 grams. Cases of bacteremia have occurred rarely in preterm infants given other probiotics (102416,111610,111612,111613,111850,111852,111853). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about cases of serious infections caused by probiotics reported in very preterm or very low birth weight infants under 1000 grams (111610). Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not support the routine administration of probiotics to these infants due to conflicting data on safety and efficacy (111608).
PREGNANCY: POSSIBLY SAFE
when Bifidobacterium bifidum is used orally and appropriately, short-term.
A combination of B. bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lacticaseibacillus casei has been used with apparent safety for 6 weeks starting at 24-28 weeks' gestation (95416,98430).
LACTATION:
There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of Bifidobacterium bifidum during lactation.
However, there are currently no reasons to expect safety concerns when used appropriately.
LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately. Bifidobacterium breve has been safely used alone or in combination with other probiotics in clinical trials lasting up to one year (3261,6087,11379,12769,12775,14338,14370,14371,103447,111002)(111003,111005).
CHILDREN: LIKELY SAFE
when used orally and appropriately in children of most ages.
Bifidobacterium breve has been safely used alone or in combination with other probiotics in infants and children for up to 12 months (17726,35377,92256,103449,105150,105151,107497,107598,111001)(111004,111008,111015). Cases of bacteremia have occurred rarely in children (107597). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of B. breve in preterm infants with a birth weight under 1000 grams. Cases of bacteremia have occurred rarely in preterm infants given B. breve or other probiotics (102416,111610,111612,111613,111850,111852,111853). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about cases of serious infections caused by probiotics reported in very preterm or very low birth weight infants under 1000 grams (111610). Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not support the routine administration of probiotics to these infants due to conflicting data on safety and efficacy (111608).
PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of Bifidobacterium breve during pregnancy or lactation.
However, there are currently no reasons to expect safety concerns when used appropriately.
LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately. Lacticaseibacillus casei has been safely used alone or in combination with other ingredients in studies lasting up to 8 weeks (90230,112517).
CHILDREN: LIKELY SAFE
when used orally and appropriately in children of most ages.
Lacticaseibacillus casei has been safely used alone in studies lasting up to 4 months (14373,107544). Also, a specific mixture (Latopic, Biomed S.A.) providing 1 billion CFUs of L. casei ŁOCK 0919 50%, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ŁOCK 0900 25%, and L. rhamnosus ŁOCK 0908 25% has been used with apparent safety for 3 months in children under 2 years of age (107510). In addition, in children ages 4-17 years, a 1:1:1 combination of L. casei CECT 9104, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145, and Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347 providing 1 billion CFUs has been used with apparent safety for 12 weeks (107531). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of L. casei in preterm infants with a birth weight under 1000 grams. Cases of bacteremia have occurred rarely in preterm infants given other probiotics (102416,111610,111612,111613,111850,111852,111853). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about cases of serious infections caused by probiotics reported in very preterm or very low birth weight infants under 1000 grams (111610). Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not support the routine administration of probiotics to these infants due to conflicting data on safety and efficacy (111608).
PREGNANCY: POSSIBLY SAFE
when used orally and appropriately.
A combination of Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum has been used with apparent safety for 6 weeks, starting at 24-28 weeks' gestation (95416,98430).
LACTATION:
There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of Lacticaseibacillus casei during lactation.
However, there are currently no reasons to expect safety concerns when used appropriately.
LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately. Lactobacillus acidophilus has been safely used as part of multi-ingredient probiotic products in studies lasting up to nine months (1731,6087,14370,14371,90231,90296,92255,103438,12775,107581)(110950,110970,110979,110998,111785,111793). ...when used intravaginally and appropriately. L. acidophilus has been used safely in studies lasting up to 12 weeks (12108,13176,13177,90265). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of non-viable, heat-killed L. acidophilus formulations when used orally.
CHILDREN: LIKELY SAFE
when used orally and appropriately in children of most ages.
Lactobacillus acidophilus has been safely used for up to 5 days (96887). Also, combination probiotics containing L. acidophilus have been used with apparent safety in various doses and durations. L. acidophilus has been combined with Bifidobacterium animalis (HOWARU Protect, Danisco) for up to 6 months in children 3-5 years old (16847), with Bifidobacterium bifidum for 6 weeks (90602,96890), with Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (Complete Probiotic Platinum) for 18 months in children 4 months to 5 years of age (103436), and in a specific product (Visbiome, ExeGi Pharma) containing a total of 8 species for 3 months in children 2-12 years old (107497). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of L. acidophilus in preterm infants with a birth weight under 1000 grams. Cases of bacteremia have occurred rarely in preterm infants given other probiotics (102416,111610,111612,111613,111850,111852,111853). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about cases of serious infections caused by probiotics reported in very preterm or very low birth weight infants under 1000 grams (111610). Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not support the routine administration of probiotics to these infants due to conflicting data on safety and efficacy (111608).
PREGNANCY: POSSIBLY SAFE
when used orally and appropriately.
A combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lacticaseibacillus casei, and Bifidobacterium bifidum has been used with apparent safety for 6 weeks, starting at 24-28 weeks' gestation (95416,98430).
LACTATION:
There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of Lactobacillus acidophilus during lactation.
However, there are currently no reasons to expect safety concerns when used appropriately.
Below is general information about the interactions of the known ingredients contained in the product Primadophilus Fortify. Some ingredients may not be listed. This information does NOT represent a recommendation for or a test of this specific product as a whole.
Theoretically, taking Bifidobacterium lactis with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of B. lactis.
 Details
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Theoretically, taking Bifidobacterium. bifidum with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of B. bifidum.
Details
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Theoretically, taking Bifidobacterium breve with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of B. breve.
Details
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Theoretically, taking Lacticaseibacillus casei with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of L. casei.
Details
L. casei preparations usually contain live and active organisms. Therefore, simultaneously taking antibiotics might kill a significant number of the organisms (1740). Tell patients to separate administration of antibiotics and L. casei preparations by at least two hours.
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Theoretically, taking Lactobacillus acidophilus with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of L. acidophilus.
Details
L. acidophilus preparations usually contain live and active organisms. Therefore, simultaneously taking antibiotics might kill a significant number of the organisms (1740). Tell patients to separate administration of antibiotics and L. acidophilus preparations by at least two hours.
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Below is general information about the adverse effects of the known ingredients contained in the product Primadophilus Fortify. Some ingredients may not be listed. This information does NOT represent a recommendation for or a test of this specific product as a whole.
General
...Orally, Bifidobacterium lactis seems to be well tolerated by most patients.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Diarrhea.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Orally: There is concern that probiotics may cause infections in some people.
Dermatologic ...In clinical research, two cases of rash, one with itching, were reported by patients taking a combination of Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei F19, and Lactobacillus acidophilus La5. However, it is not clear if these adverse effects were due to B. lactis, other probiotics, or the combination, or if the events were idiosyncratic (90236).
Gastrointestinal ...Bloating and flatulence have been reported with probiotic use; however, these adverse effects have not been reported from ingestion of Bifidobacterium lactis in particular. When taken orally, B. lactis can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal complaints in children (3169,95381,105149). Gastrointestinal complaints including worsening diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, stomach burn, and flatulence have been reported rarely (110986,110999).
Immunologic
...There have been cases of Bifidobacterium bacteremia in critically ill patients (102416,107599).
These cases are rare and none seem to be due to Bifidobacterium lactis alone.
A specific preparation (NBL probiotic ATP, Nobel) containing B. lactis, Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides, colostrum, and lactoferrin was found to be a significant risk factor for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus colonization in premature infants. Although there was no direct link to determine causation, it was hypothesized that the probiotic mixture helped to mediate the acquisition and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (96890).
General
...Orally, Bifidobacterium bifidum seems to be well tolerated by most patients.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Orally: There is concern that probiotics may cause infections in some people.
Gastrointestinal ...Bloating and flatulence have been reported with probiotic use; however, these adverse effects have not been reported from ingestion of Bifidobacterium bifidum in particular. One case of vomiting and fever has been reported in a clinical study for a single child taking B. bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus. It is unclear if the probiotics were the causal agent (90286).
Immunologic ...There have been cases of Bifidobacterium sepsis in critically ill patients (102416,107599). However, these cases are rare and none seem to be due to Bifidobacterium bifidum.
General
...Orally, Bifidobacterium breve seems to be well tolerated by most patients.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Orally: There is concern that B. breve may cause bacteremia in certain patients.
Gastrointestinal ...Bloating and flatulence have been reported with probiotic use; however, these adverse effects have not been reported from ingestion of Bifidobacterium breve in particular.
Immunologic
...There have been rare cases of Bifidobacterium bacteremia related to probiotic use in critically ill infants and adults (102416,107597,107599).
In addition, cases of B. breve bacteremia have occurred in preterm infants or young children using probiotics (102416,107597). In a review of 298 term and preterm infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital in Japan and received B. breve BBG-01 over a five-year period, bacteremia occurred in six patients (2%). Concomitant conditions included gastrointestinal perforation, food-induced enterocolitis syndrome, adhesive ileus, ileal volvulus, and aspiration pneumonia following esophageal atresia repair (107597). In one case report, B. breve BBG-01 was provided to an infant starting two days after birth and the day of surgery for an omphalocele. The infant also had bilious gastric fluid with elevated inflammatory markers. It is thought that the intestinal surgical repair might have led to the translocation of the ingested B. breve (107596).
Some cases of B. breve bacteremia do not seem to be directly related to probiotic use. There have been rare cases of B. breve bacteremia and necrotizing fasciitis in patients with type 2 diabetes. One patient had pre-existing chronic diabetic foot ulcers and the other had abscesses near the groin (111007,111011). A childhood history of frequent consumption of fermented beverages containing B. breve was thought to have resulted in B. breve in the intestinal flora of one of these patients, aged 42 years (111011). However, it is unclear if consumption of an unknown quantity of B. breve more than 20 years previously would play a role in this outcome. There is also a rare case of ventriculoperitoneal shunt B. breve infection possibly related to poor oral hygiene and dentition (111014).
General
...Orally, Lacticaseibacillus casei is generally well tolerated.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Mild gastrointestinal adverse effects.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Orally: There is concern that lactobacilli may cause infections in some people.
Gastrointestinal ...Orally, taking Lacticaseibacillus casei in combination with other probiotics may cause gastrointestinal side effects including abdominal pain (90291); however, these events are uncommon.
Immunologic
...Since Lacticaseibacillus casei preparations contain live and active microorganisms, there is some concern that they might cause pathogenic infection in some patients.
Some lactobacilli species have been isolated in some cases of bacteremia, sepsis, splenic abscess, endocarditis, aortic dissection, necrotizing fasciitis, pancreatic necrosis, and meningoencephalitis. Most of these cases are thought to be due to the translocation of bacteria from other locations in the body in which they occur naturally, such as the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. The majority of cases are not related to the use of probiotic supplements and most are not associated with the use of L. casei (107543,112516). There is at least one case of L. casei bacteremia and endocarditis thought to be related with L. casei intake in a 71-year-old immunocompromised female (112520).
There are two cases of L. casei infection in a prosthetic joint (90282,112514). In one case, the 95-year-old female with a history of hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease was known to consume yogurt containing L. casei. However, it was not confirmed that the infection was related to the consumption of this product. Spread from the gastrointestinal tract or vaginal flora could not be ruled out (90282). In the case of an 80-year-old male, the cause was unknown as there was no probiotic supplementation and no underlying medical condition or infectious portal of entry (112514).
A specific probiotic preparation (NBL probiotic ATP, Nobel) containing L. casei, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides, colostrum, and lactoferrin was found to be a significant risk factor for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus colonization in premature infants. Although there was no direct link to determine causation, it was hypothesized that the probiotic mixture helped to mediate the acquisition and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (96890).
General
...Orally and intravaginally, Lactobacillus acidophilus is generally well tolerated.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Mild gastrointestinal adverse effects.
Intravaginally: Vaginal discharge.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Orally: There is concern that L. acidophilus may cause infections in some people.
Dermatologic ...Orally, in one clinical trial, a combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei F19, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lacltis BB-12 was associated with two cases of rash, one with itching. However, it is not clear if these adverse effects were due to L. acidophilus, other ingredients, the combination, or if the events were idiosyncratic (90236).
Gastrointestinal ...Orally, taking Lactobacillus acidophilus in combination with other probiotics may cause gastrointestinal side effects including epigastric discomfort (90239), abdominal pain (90239,90291,111785), dyspepsia (90239), flatulence (107497,107520), bloating (107497,111785), diarrhea (111785), vomiting (107537), and burping (90239); however, these events are uncommon.
Genitourinary ...Intravaginally, cream containing Lactobacillus acidophilus has been shown to cause increased vaginal discharge in about 5% of patients, compared to about 1% of patients receiving placebo cream (90237). Vaginal burning was reported by one person using intravaginal L. acidophilus and Limosilactobacillus fermentum in a clinical trial (111781).
Immunologic ...Since Lactobacillus acidophilus preparations contain live and active microorganisms, there is some concern that they might cause pathogenic infection in some patients. L. acidophilus has been isolated in some cases of bacteremia, sepsis, splenic abscess, liver abscess, endocarditis, necrotizing fasciitis, pancreatic necrosis, and meningoencephalitis. Most of these cases are thought to be due to the translocation of bacteria from other locations in the body in which they occur naturally, such as the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract (107543,111782,111792). L. acidophilus endophthalmitis has been reported rarely (111787,111795). In one case, it was related to intravitreal injections for age-related macular degeneration in a 90-year-old female with an intraocular lens (111787). In another, it occurred following cataract surgery (111795).
