With regard to shelf-life and whether or not the probiotics are dead before they hit the intestines, I have no insight to pass along. But I can tell you that Ultimate Flora is always refrigerated: at Vitamin Shoppe it is sold right out of the refrigerator and my wife and I keep it in our fridge all the time. I can also tell you that Critical Care (50 Billion) has helped me to avoid many, many colds over the past few winters since we started buying it. Ordinarily I'd get two or three colds over the course of one winter--but now, whenever the symptoms begin to appear, I take a "50 billion" as we call it. In fact, if I even just sneeze or cough, my wife says "Go get yourself a 50 billion--right now!" So I guess I can say: "This product works for me!"

  This product has a special coating which allow the capsule to pass through the stomach juice to reach the intestines. For added assurance, I drink two table spoons of fresh lemon juice in a quarter glass of distilled water, wait for ~10 minutes and take the capsule. The lemon juice will cause the gut to become alkaline and it will not be hostile to the flora. one may want to do this with a empty stomach and take a cup of flora rich yogurt afterward.

  I have used many probiotics including some that "went beyond the gut", but this product has been one of the best because of the number of bacteria and the types. I have recommended this product to several friends and we all love it. Remember to refrigerate it after you open it as that preserves the product. Hope this helps.

  I wish I could help you, but I'm not a scientist and,therefore, not qualified to respond to your question.

I do know that a supplement that works for one person may not work for another. All I can speak to is the fact that this supplement works extremely well for me.

  This product is refrigerated at the store to help keep it fresh and as long as you keep it refrigerated also, it will help keep it fresh. My doctor recommend the refrigerated 50 billion probiotic for me to use.

  Technically, it does not need to be refrigerated. However, the product label states: "Best if refrigerated."

This is true with most probiotic products. They will retain more live cultures if they are kept cold.

  Yes, Ultimate Flora Critical Care needs to be refrigerated.

  The pills are still ok, but it will help keep more of the bacteria alive if you refrigerate them as soon as you get them.

  I have been taking Ultimate flora Critical Care for years. I have never refrigerated it and it works fine.

  It is my understanding that it is best to keep all probiotics refrigerated, especially in a warm place.

  Yes, they are live active cultures and they work best if refrigerated.

  Hi Caryn,
It depends on the condition of your digestive/elimination systems when you begin taking it. I had already been taking another probiotic for many years. But, when I was diagnosed with a lung infection and had to start taking a three antibiotic cocktail, I started taking Ultimate Flora at the same time. For me, it pretty much worked in the first week. I was on the antibiotics for seven months and my bowels were functioning even better than they were before and I never got a yeast infection or any other problems that antibiotics usually cause. Best of luck!

  It takes a week or so if the conditions are good for the flora to survive in the gut. As the stomach secretions are lethal to the flora, one must help to create an environment more friendly to it. I found it work better when I took the capsule with an empty stomach, and I think it is better if I take it with a cup of non-fat plain cultured yogurt along at the same time. One may want to create an alkaline gut by taking fresh lemon juice to clean out the bad germs.

  Depending on the state of your health you may see a difference within a couple days to a week. I take daily to maintain optimal immune support and have been free of sickness all winter.

  between one to two weeks for me

  Yes, it must be refrigerated.

  accurate

  Yes, I think it should be kept in the refrigerator. In our local store it is also kept cold.

  yes I keep it in the refrigerator.

  yes. keep in a cool place.

  Yes, the ultimate flora should stay cold as the potency diminishes in non-frigde temperatures. However, I think there's still some benefit if left out in room temparature over short periods of time (e.g. going on vacation for a week)

  There are 60 capsules in this bottle. The cost is $60.59. I always figure it will cost me about a dollar a day to take a high quality probiotic. There are other less expensive ones, but this brand is excellent and highly recommended by health care professionals.

  There are 60 capsules in the bottle and the current cost is $60.59.