Fortéfy
Multi-strain probiotic supplement with four elite, research-based, and dairy-free probiotic organisms
Formulated to support the restoration of a healthy gut microbiome*
Fortéfy™ is a multi-strain probiotic that encourages the dominance and continued growth of beneficial flora to promote a healthy and balanced gut microbiome.*
Fortéfy™ may be taken daily or as needed to encourage the restoration of beneficial colonies after the intestinal flora has been compromised.*
FORTÉFYTM INCLUDES FOUR ELITE STRAINS OF PROBIOTICS:
- Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (also known as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v)
- Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14
- Lactobacillus salivarius Ls-33
- Bifidobacterium longum Bl-05
SUPPLEMENTATION WITH FORTÉFYTM
- Supports optimal immune and gastrointestinal health*
- Supports normal bowel movements*
- Restores healthy intestinal flora after antibiotic use*
- Improves nutrient absorption*
- Supports the immune response and clearance of acute infections*
- Promotes healthy cortisol levels*
What the Research Shows:
The World Health Organization defines probiotics as “live micro-organisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.”1 The term “probiotic” means “life-giving” and describes a vast array of known and yet unknown species and strains of commensal bacteria that comprise our microbiome. According to research, an unhealthy gut microbiome is associated with disease in the gastrointestinal system and throughout the body. One mechanism by which probiotics contribute to gut health is by preventing potential pathogens from binding to the gut mucosa via competitive inhibition. A review of 63 studies containing over 8000 participants found that probiotics are a beneficial and safe intervention to reduce the severity and duration of acute diarrhea.2 Chronic diarrhea in children also improves with probiotics.3 Likewise, a published review with over 1000 adult participants found that functional constipation improves with probiotics.4 Therefore, probiotics support healthy bowel movements.
A healthy gut microbiome also supports the innate, or nonspecific, immune system by improving the health and function of intestinal absorptive cells.5 Studies show that probiotics and commensal bacteria, including Lactobacillus acidophilus (La-14), directly influence both the innate and adaptive components of the humoral immune system.6-8 A review of randomized controlled trials shows that probiotics can prevent acute viral upper respiratory infections by 47%.9 Research demonstrates that the gut microbiome in allergy-prone individuals differs from those with normal immune function.10 Animal studies have also shown that supplementation with L. acidophilus (La-14) and Bifidobacterium longum (Bl-05) reduces the magnitude of immune suppression present after stress; decreases blood pressure, LDL, and triglyceride levels; and increases HDL levels.11,12
Lactobacillus plantarum 299v
Research has shown L. plantarum 299v may reduce salivary cortisol levels during acute stress, improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), reduce intestinal permeability, improve vascular endothelial function, decrease postprandial insulin responses, reduce inflammatory biomarkers, improve iron absorption, support cognitive function in patients with depression, reduce the incidence of C. difficile and other infections, and enhance concentrations of fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).13
Lactobacillus acidophilus (La-14)
La-14 displays documented anti-inflammatory activity and oxalate degradation effects which may decrease the risk of kidney stones.14 La-14 produces bacteriocin, an anti-bacterial compound, and other compounds, such as lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, that may reduce the proliferation of pathogens.15,16 In conjunction with other probiotics, La-14 may reduce abdominal fat and increase antioxidant enzyme activity more effectively than an isolated dietary intervention.17 Oral administration of a probiotic mixture containing La-14 results in colonization of L. acidophilus in the vagina of healthy women as well as attenuation of bacterial vaginosis in a mouse model.18,19
Lactobacillus salivarius (Ls-33)
Ls-33 increases the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in immune cells in vitro.20 In a mouse model, Ls-33 significantly attenuates colitis, induces down-regulation of inflammation-related genes, lowers serum levels of some inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and increases the effects of regulatory T cells (Treg cells).21,22
Bifidobacterium longum (Bl-05)
Bifidobacterium spp. are common inhabitants of the human digestive tract. Research shows they may modulate gastrointestinal immune responses, prevent infection by enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), and support the health of the mucosal barrier.23,24
References:
1 Morelli L, Capurso L. FAO/WHO guidelines on probiotics: 10 years later. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2012;46 Suppl:S1-S2. doi:10.1097/MCG.0b013e318269fdd5
2 Allen SJ, Martinez EG, Gregorio GV, et al. Probiotics for treating acute infectious diarrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;2010(11):CD003048. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003048.pub3
3 Bernaola Aponte G, Bada Mancilla CA, Carreazo NY, et al. Probiotics for treating persistent diarrhoea in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;2013(8):CD007401. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007401.pub3
4 Dimidi E, Christodoulides S, Fragkos KC, et al. The effect of probiotics on functional constipation in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;100(4):1075-1084. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.089151
5 Ciorba MA. A gastroenterologist's guide to probiotics. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012;10(9):960-968. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2012.03.024
6 Shakhabayeva G, Kushugulova A, Saduakhasova S, et al. Influence of Probiotic Consortium on TH1 and TH2 Immune Response. Cent Asian J Glob Health. 2014;2(Suppl):122. doi:10.5195/cajgh.2013.122
7 Frei R, Akdis M, O'Mahony L. Prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and the immune system: experimental data and clinical evidence. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2015;31(2):153-158. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000000151
8 Lammers KM, Brigidi P, Vitali B, et al. Immunomodulatory effects of probiotic bacteria DNA: IL-1 and IL-10 response in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2003;38(2):165-172. doi:10.1016/S0928-8244(03)00144-5
9 Hao Q, Dong BR, Wu T. Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(2):CD006895. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006895.pub3
10 Wollina U. Microbiome in atopic dermatitis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2017;10:51-56. doi:10.2147/CCID.S130013
11 Lollo PC, Cruz AG, Morato PN, et al. Probiotic cheese attenuates exercise-induced immune suppression in Wistar rats. J Dairy Sci. 2012;95(7):3549-3558. doi:10.3168/jds.2011-5124
12 Lollo PCB, Morato PN, Moura CS, et al. Hypertension parameters are attenuated by the continuous consumption of probiotic Minas cheese. Food Res Int. 2015;76(Pt 3):611-617. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2015.07.015
13 Nordström EA, Teixeira C, Montelius C, et al. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (LP299V®): three decades of research. Benef Microbes. 2021;12(5):441-465. doi:10.3920/BM2020.0191
14 Giardina S, Scilironi C, Michelotti A, et al. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of selected oxalate-degrading probiotic bacteria: potential applications in the prevention and treatment of hyperoxaluria. J Food Sci. 2014;79(3):M384-M390. doi:10.1111/1750-3841.12344
15 Todorov SD, Furtado DN, Saad SM, et al. Bacteriocin production and resistance to drugs are advantageous features for Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14, a potential probiotic strain. New Microbiol. 2011;34(4):357-370.
16 Zhang Y, Chen J, Wu J, et al. Probiotic use in preventing postoperative infection in liver transplant patients. Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr. 2013;2(3):142-147. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2304-3881.2013.06.05
17 Gomes AC, de Sousa RG, Botelho PB, et al. The additional effects of a probiotic mix on abdominal adiposity and antioxidant Status: A double-blind, randomized trial. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017;25(1):30-38. doi:10.1002/oby.21671
18 Jang SE, Jeong JJ, Choi SY, et al. Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14 Attenuate Gardnerella vaginalis-Infected Bacterial Vaginosis in Mice [published correction appears in Nutrients. 2017 Jul 07;9(7):]. Nutrients. 2017;9(6):531. doi:10.3390/nu9060531
19 Bertuccini L, Russo R, Iosi F, et al. Effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus on bacterial vaginal pathogens. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2017;30(2):163-167. doi:10.1177/0394632017697987
20 Gad M, Ravn P, Søborg DA, et al. Regulation of the IL-10/IL-12 axis in human dendritic cells with probiotic bacteria. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2011;63(1):93-107. doi:10.1111/j.1574-695X.2011.00835.x
21 Daniel C, Poiret S, Goudercourt D, et al. Selecting lactic acid bacteria for their safety and functionality by use of a mouse colitis model. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006;72(9):5799-5805. doi:10.1128/AEM.00109-06
22 Petersen ER, Claesson MH, Schmidt EG, et al. Consumption of probiotics increases the effect of regulatory T cells in transfer colitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2012;18(1):131-142. doi:10.1002/ibd.21709
23 Ruiz L, Delgado S, Ruas-Madiedo P, et al. Bifidobacteria and Their Molecular Communication with the Immune System. Front Microbiol. 2017;8:2345. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2017.02345
24 Fijan S, Šulc D, Steyer A. Study of the In Vitro Antagonistic Activity of Various Single-Strain and Multi-Strain Probiotics against Escherichia coli. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(7):1539. doi:10.3390/ijerph15071539