Are Refrigerated Probiotics Better Than Non-Refrigerated?

Your gut microbiome is composed of thousands of bacterial strains that help you break down food and extract its nutrients. Your microbiome can be affected by anything, like stress, diet change, taking antibiotics, illness, or alcohol consumption. If your bacterial community becomes unbalanced, you can experience discomfort, constipation, diarrhea, systemic inflammation, or even nutritional deficiencies. 

When your microbiome is unhealthy, the next logical step is to use a probiotic to reestablish balance. But there are a lot of probiotics on the market, so as you’re doing your research, you may notice that things like bacterial species, delivery method, and storage guidelines differ, but does that make one better than the other? 

Do Probiotics Need to Be Refrigerated?

Since probiotics are all formulated differently, they will have different storage requirements. Some are light-sensitive, others may lose potency under heat exposure, and some can be compromised by physical stress that damages their pH-protective coating. When comparing refrigerated probiotics vs non refrigerated supplements, the biggest difference lies in how each is stabilized and protected. 

So the short answer is no, not all probiotics need to be refrigerated. 

Usually, the only probiotics that need to be refrigerated are bacterial strains that can not survive the drying process, like active cultures in dairy products or kombucha. Most other bacterial strains are rapidly freeze-dried to preserve their activity, then coated in something (like a capsule or other preservative coating) so they can survive the acidic environment in your stomach and reach their end destination, your intestines. 

That doesn’t mean that your probiotics are safe at all temperatures, though. Most probiotics marked as “shelf-stable” are meant to be stored in a room-temperature, dark, and dry environment. So that means if your stable probiotics are stored at a temperature above 86 degrees Fahrenheit, you can expect them to be far less potent. But don’t despair, research shows that even dead probiotics can still benefit the microbiome. 

Effectiveness of Refrigerated Probiotics vs. Non Refrigerated

Just because bacteria is active, or “alive,” doesn’t mean it’s more effective. The freeze drying process doesn’t kill bacteria, just inactivates it until it reaches the gut, where it can absorb nutrients and water for rehydration. Live bacterial strains, like those in dairy, often do not survive the acidic conditions found in the stomach. Even the best refrigerated probiotics can break down if not properly protected by a coating or capsule. 

Choosing the Best Probiotic

Generally, the best probiotic is whatever one works for you. If you’re browsing for the best refrigerated probiotics, focus on brands that list specific bacterial strains and guaranteed CFUs at the time of consumption. 

Refrigeration or lack thereof doesn’t determine the quality or effectiveness of a bacterial strain, but always be sure to check the storage conditions on the bottle to ensure you keep it stable. Even the best refrigerated probiotics can lose potency if not stored properly. 

Picking a probiotic largely depends on why you’re going on a probiotic, since different strains of bacteria are better suited to specific conditions. 

• Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces: Best for inflammation-based complaints like IBS, ulcerative colitis, elevated levels of inflammatory markers in the blood (c-reactive protein), Crohn’s disease, metabolic disorders, and insulin resistance.
• Propinonibacterium and Lactobacillus: best for reestablishing bacterial diversity after taking antibiotics, exposure to toxic or infectious compounds, lactose intolerance, and travelers’ diarrhea. 
• Bacillus: Best for conditions affecting the production of digestive enzymes (like pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer), persistent bloating and diarrhea after meals, and infections of salmonella.
• Akkermansia: Best for metabolic disorders (like obesity and insulin resistance), damaged gut barrier lining, and may be helpful for some autoimmune conditions.

The second most important factor is how well the bacterial strains are protected. When shopping for a new probiotic, look for ones that are inside capsules, coated, or delayed-release. This indicates that the bacteria is protected, so it’s more likely to stay intact until it reaches the gut. 

Lastly, you’ll want to look at the Colony Functional Units (CFUs). CFUs tell you how much viable bacteria is present in the probiotic, in other words, how much bacteria is available to grow when it reaches your microbiome. Look for a minimum of 5 billion CFUs, or more if you’re trying to treat a specific condition. If you see any products that say “CFU at the time of manufacture,” steer clear, because that means they’re not guaranteeing this bacteria will be functional at the time of consumption. 

Conclusion

Ultimately, the choice between refrigerated probiotics vs non refrigerated comes down to efficacy, since protected bacterial strains are more likely to survive to colonize the intestines. Our website has tons of probiotics, and we even have some expert picks from our wellness team if you need some guidance. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are refrigerated probiotics better than non-refrigerated?

No, in fact, many refrigerated sources of probiotics are non-encapsulated (not protected) so they don’t always reach the intestines to colonize the microbiome. 

Do probiotics need to be refrigerated?

Probiotic labels will always tell you the optimal storage conditions, but most probiotics on the market are shelf-stable at room temperature. 

What is the best refrigerated probiotic?

Some of the most effective probiotics are freeze-dried, so they don’t need to be refrigerated. To find great probiotics, visit our website for expert recommendations.