How long should I take probiotics?

To feel the full effect of OMNi-BiOTiC® products it is recommended that you take the product for at least one month. Of course, this may vary as it depends on the problem being treated.

The general rule of thumb is that you should take one month of OMNi-BiOTiC® for each year that you have experienced symptoms. All OMNi-BiOTiC® products are, however, suitable for continuous use.

Could taking OMNi-BiOTiC® products falsify a stool analysis?

Yes, we recommend that you stop taking probiotic products 5 days before stool collection. Afterwards, you can resume taking OMNi-BiOTiC® products as normal.

Do freeze-dried bacteria expire?

Different kinds of freeze-dried bacteria have different expiry dates, and the storage temperature and moisture levels especially are limiting factors. Regarding OMNi-BiOTiC® we can say that these probiotic products can withstand temperatures of up to 40 degrees and are still safe for use even one year after the expiry date – although over time fewer bacteria are viable.

How long do live bacteria survive in yoghurt?

Bacteria have an average lifespan of a few days. However, they are metabolically active only when in the exponential growth and multiplication stage, which only lasts around 24 hours. This means that the yoghurt you buy in the supermarket only contains a very small number of bacteria that will actively get to work within your body. In addition, there is a lack of dietary fibre (food for the bacteria) which prevents the bacteria from multiplying further. Therefore, only a few live bacteria enter the body.

As the bacteria found in yoghurt are usually organisms from animals, this means that they do not settle well in the human body and are excreted from the body within a few days.

How often should I have bowel movements?

From a medical point of view, normal stool frequency is defined as no more than 3 times per day and at least 3 times per week. Stool frequency, along with various other criteria, is also used to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome. In babies, stool frequency of once a week up to 8 times per day is considered normal. Especially in the first few days and weeks, stool frequency for babies can fluctuate.

What bacterial strains are contained in our products?

The bacterial strains contained in our products are particularly strong and they can settle and multiply within the human body, even if this strain was not present in the body beforehand. The strains are also especially interesting because they can transfer their properties to other bacterial species using horizontal gene transfer. This is particularly relevant, for example, if C. difficile is multiplying in the body and few bacterial species are present that can kill them and reduce their toxin release. Horizontal gene transfer can enable more bacterial species to be able to carry out this activity themselves short term.

What happens to the bacteria during the activation time?

Bacteria can survive in a freeze-dried state, but they are not active. They must be rehydrated with water and activated with the components of the matrix (e.g., inulin or FOS) to reach their full capacity.

What temperature should the water be to activate my OMNi-BiOTiC® products?

Our recommendation is to stir the product in lukewarm water, as this is similar to the natural temperature inside your gut (around 37 °C).

However, bacteria can also be rehydrated in cold water.

Hot water (above 40 °C) is not suitable. Human bacteria are not resistant to heat and temperatures about 40 °C will kill them.

Can I only dissolve OMNi-BiOTiC® products in water?

The pH value of water is optimal for activating freeze-dried bacteria. Their active characteristic is taken away temporarily by the freeze-drying process. You may, however, use milk, yoghurt, or lukewarm tea are also suitable to rehydrate OMNi-BiOTiC® bacteria.

In general, when choosing how to dissolve your OMNi-BiOTiC® product, then you should consider the following:

• the liquid should not be hotter than 40° C
• No coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks, or anything with a high pH value such as cola, fruit juice or vinegar should be used.
• Rehydration is possible with any food or drink that contains moisture, for example, cream cheese, as the bacteria only need a very small amount of water to reactivate. Even the moisture in the air is enough to enable rehydration and therefore the powder must also be carefully protected from moisture before use. Institut AllergoSan does this by using sachets with multiple layers as well as glass bottles for the products. The glass bottle lid should always be stored with the lid on.

How do the bacteria survive the lactic acid?

As a matter of principle, a pre-selection is already made during the selection of the bacterial strains to use only those strains that are genetically resistant to gastric acid as well as bile and pancreatic secretions. Activation in the glass additionally strengthens them to tolerate gastric acid.

Can I use an  OMNi-BiOTiC® product after the expiry date?

OMNi-BiOTiC® does not spoil after the best-before date. However, we have carried out exact tests and can therefore only guarantee that the number of bacteria per sachet/per gram stated on the packaging is alive and active up to this point. Experience shows that the products can be used up to one year after the expiry date and the effect of the bacteria is still noticeable.

Is OMNi-BiOTiC® vegan?

Yes, OMNi-BiOTiC® is vegan; except  OMNi-BiOTiC® metabolic, which contains minimal amounts of lactose (equivalent to the lactose content in about 4 drops of cow's milk).

Is OMNi-BiOTiC® gluten-free?

OMNi-BiOTiC® is gluten-, sugar- and lactose-free (exception: OMNi-BiOTiC® metabolic)
Our products contain no wheat and are produced without genetic engineering. They are suitable for diabetics, wheat allergy sufferers and of course also for vegans, except OMNi-BiOTiC® metabolic.

Can OMNi-BiOTiC® be taken despite an intolerance (histamine, lactose, fructose)?

With lactose intolerance:
Only OMNi-BiOTiC® metabolic contains lactose, all other OMNi-BiOTiC® products do NOT contain lactose - which is why OMNi-BiOTiC® products can be taken without hesitation even if you are lactose intolerant. OMNi-BiOTiC® metabolic contains lactose in a minimal amount (corresponding to the lactose content of approx. 4 drops of cow's milk).

With fructose intolerance:
OMNi-BiOTiC® products contain various dietary fibres that serve as specific food for the bacteria, including e.g. fructooligosaccharides or inulin. These are the natural nutrients of intestinal bacteria, which, however, are only contained in OMNi-BiOTiC® products in very small quantities (significantly less than is used, for example, in the clinical breath test to provoke a measurable reaction). If the activation time is extended to 30 minutes, the bacteria metabolise their food (= fructooligosaccharides, inulin etc.) almost completely, so that at most MINIMAL QUANTITIES of these substances still reach the intestine. Whether these dietary fibres are contained in the respective OMNi-BiOTiC® product can be seen on the package insert, the product packaging or on our website.

For histamine intolerance:
The bacteria in OMNi-BiOTiC® are genetically tested to determine whether they would be able to produce histamine. Only strains of bacteria that are NOT able to produce histamine themselves are used for our products. This means that OMNi-BiOTiC® products can be taken by people with histamine intolerance without hesitation.

How long should you wait after taking von OMNi-BiOTiC® before eating?

Generally speaking, you can eat straight after taking an  OMNi-BiOTiC®  product. Optimally, wait another 10 to 15 minutes for the liquid to be transported from the empty stomach further into the duodenum.

Why do OMNi-BiOTiC® products contain other ingredients in addition to the bacterial strains?

FOS, GOS, inulin, enzymes, maltodextrin, manganese sulphate, etc. are components of the matrix through which the bacteria are nourished and activated during the rehydration phase.
This food is precisely tailored to which nutrients the bacteria need to start the multiplication process and is so minimal that it can already be metabolised by the microorganisms during their activation phase - in the ready-to-drink solution, these components are practically no longer present, as they are consumed by the bacteria.

Can I mix multiple OMNi-BiOTiC® products?

You can take both products two hours apart, but you cannot rehydrate them in the same glass, because each der OMNi-BiOTiC® product is characterised by a unique and individual selection of bacterial strains and a matrix individualised for each product. Ideally, please simply take one preparation in the morning before breakfast and the other before dinner or bedtime.

What is the dosage for children?

For children up to the age of three, half the dosage, i.e. 1 x daily ½ measuring spoon or ½ sachet is completely sufficient. Children from the age of 3 are given the adult dosage, as from this time onwards the intestine is just as developed as in an adult.

Are all OMNi-BiOTiC® products suitable for babies under 12 months old?

In principle, all types of bacteria that are found in OMNi-BiOTiC® products are also suitable for babies. However, some of the bacterial strains can also produce small amounts of D-lactate, which could cause bloating in babies in the first year of life.

To be absolutely safe, for babies in the first year of life, use OMNi-BiOTiC® PANDA, which was developed in the context of the needs of newborns and babies in the first year of life.

Is tube administration possible and what should be considered?

OMNi-BiOTiC® products can be administered via a gastric tube without any problems; the amount of liquid for activation can be varied as required. Administration using a duodenal tube may, however, only be carried out if the digestive tract is completely intact – i.e., there must be no inflammation of the intestine, bile, liver, or pancreas.

How can I take OMNi-BiOTiC® 6, Mikrosan, META-CARE® Gut Balance and META-CARE® Basic 3 together?

You can start with all the products at once or take them one by one. Depending on what suits you more.
We recommend the following:

1 measuring spoon in the morning before breakfast and/or in the evening before going to bed OMNi-BiOTiC® 6, dissolve in water and drink.

Take MikroSan 30 minutes before lunch for 4 weeks (1 x daily 30 ml) for intestinal cleansing.

Ideally, take META-CARE® Darm Fit (1 x 2 capsules daily) to strengthen the intestinal mucosa.

Directly before going to bed 3 capsules of META-CARE® Basic 3 to enable the deacidification of the body during the night (regeneration time).

Is OMNi-BiOTiC® CAT&DOG only for cats and dogs or also for other animals?

OMNi-BiOTiC® CAT&DOG contains two probiotic bacterial strains officially approved for dogs and cats. For other animals, these two strains are not approved by the European Commission.

The rules are very strict here, as in many cases the laws that apply to farm animals are applied.

Can you open META-CARE® capsules to take the contents?

In general, META-CARE® capsules can be opened (the only exception being Omega 3) and stirred into juice, yoghurt or other foods.

Only META-CARE® Colon Lecithin should not be opened. It contains phosphatidylcholine, which acts on the intestinal epithelium and is inactivated by stomach acid. A special capsule is used here which allows the ingredient to be released only in the intestine.