Re: VSL3

[Guest guest]

At 11:14 AM 9/14/2007, you wrote:

Does anyone know if it is ok to

take this probiotic? [VSL3]

According to

http://www.vsl3.com/VSL3/healthcare.asp

VSL#3® is a high-potency medical food probiotic consisting of live

freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria. Each dose contains 450 billion live

lactic acid bacteria per packet in defined ratios of lyophilized

Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium infantis,

Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei,

Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus.

VSL#3® comes in a powder that is intended to be mixed with at least 4

ounces of cold water and consumed. VSL#3® has a light lemon cream flavor.

Ingredients -- 450 billion lactic acid bacteria, maltose, natural lemon

flavor, silicon dioxide.

VSL#3® is also available as an unflavored powder that is intended to be

mixed with yogurt, ice-cream, apple sauce or any other cold food and

consumed. Ingredients -- 450 billion lactic acid bacteria,

cornstarch.

According to this, it contains not one, but three forms of Bifido

(Bifidus) bacteria -- and Bifidus is SCD-illegal. There have been many,

many instances of SCDers being thrown into a flare when taking this

because it's supposed to be such a great probiotic. I, myself had a

really bad experience with Bifidus.... NOT one I care to repeat,

thanks!

In addition, the flavored kind has illegal maltose and " natural

lemon flavor " (which might be just lemon oil, but I doubt it). The

unflavored kind has CORNSTARCH!

So even if the bacteria were all legal, the other ingredients make it

completely illegal as a supplement.

—

Marilyn

New

Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund