Why protect the probiotics?

A safe passage of the probiotic through the harsh environment in the stomach and subsequent release and proliferation in the intestinal tract are essential for an efficacious product. Many probiotic strains are by nature not very tolerable to acid and bile salts. The commonly applied probiotic dosage formats are generally not designed to withstand the passage through the stomach and will disintegrate before they reach the intestines. This may limit the amount of viable probiotics that reach and colonize the intestines and thus may have a negative impact on product efficacy.