Usage: Take 1 capsule daily for maintenance and increase to 2 capsules a day as needed, or use as directed by your qualified health care consultant.
fem-dophilus™ contains two patented and clinically proven probiotic strains, Lactobacillus GR-1™ and Lactobacillus RC-14®, discovered and developed by Dr. Gregor Reid and Dr. Andrew Bruce at Urex Biotech. Over 20 years of research supports the oral use of GR-1™ and RC-14® to colonize and protect the vaginal tract.
Clinical trials have shown that GR-1™ and RC-14®:
- Help to maintain or restore healthy vaginal flora which is important in maintaining vaginal health
- Support the health of the urinary tract
fem-dophilus™ is manufactured under pharmaceutical GMP conditions with guaranteed potency and consistency. The probiotic strains in fem-dophilus™ are in a proprietary polysaccharide matrix, which protects the bacteria from stomach acid and enhances probiotic bacteria survival to the lower intestine.
Other Ingredients:
Dextrose anhydrate, potato starch,
microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate (vegetable source). Capsule consists of gelatin and titanium dioxide.
No wheat, no gluten, no soy, no dairy, no egg, no fish/shellfish, no nuts/tree nuts.
By Dallas Clouatre, Ph.D.
Fem-Dophilus® contains two patented and clinically proven strains of probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1™ and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14™, discovered and developed by Drs. Gregor Reid and Andrew Bruce of Urex Biotech. Research has confirmed that GR-1™ and RC-14™ taken together as an oral supplement will colonize and protect the vaginal and urinary tracts. Over twenty years of clinical trials has shown that GR-1 and RC-14 help to restore and maintain the balance of flora important to vaginal health and the overall health of the urinary tract.
Patented Fem-Dophilus® is manufactured at a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) pharmaceutical facility under strict quality control to insure potency and consistency. The probiotic bacteria in Fem-Dophilus® are delivered in a proprietary polysaccharide matrix that protects the bacteria from stomach acid and enhances the survival of these species as they reach the intestinal tract.
How Probiotics Support Vaginal Health
Many health conscious consumers are aware that daily support for the gastrointestinal tract with friendly microflora is important for many health reasons. Restoring the balance of microorganisms in the gut both helps to crowd out unwanted organisms and to promote proper immune response. Less well known is the fact that special strains of probiotic bacteria also contribute to vaginal and urinary tract health. It has been established that women with an imbalance in intestinal microflora are at a higher risk of developing urogenital infections. However, supportive microflora capable of colonizing the vagina can play an important role in maintaining urogenital health.
This suggests that the daily ingestion of certain probiotics might provide a natural, safe and effective means of contributing to a healthful balance of microorganisms in both the intestinal and vaginal tracts. Clinical research supports this proposition. Researchers have shown this in the article, “Oral use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L .fermentum RC-14 significantly alters vaginal flora: randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 64 healthy women.” (FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 2003;35:131-134.)
Oral Intake of Probiotics Influences Vaginal Floral Balance
Clinical trials have examined whether probiotics taken orally can influence vaginal floral balance and, likewise, whether all probiotics have such benefits. The answer to the first issue is that, yes, an intake of probiotics as an oral supplement can significantly and beneficially affect the balance of vaginal flora. However, the answer to the second issue is that only certain probiotics can provide this benefit. Direct comparisons have demonstrated that the probiotic species and strains must be carefully selected in order to significantly and beneficially influence vaginal health.
The major criteria required in selecting beneficial probiotics are their ability to colonize the vagina and reduce undesirable vaginal microflora. In one trial, GR-1 and RC-14 administered in skim milk were given orally to 10 women twice daily for 14 days. GR-1 and RC-14 were recovered from the vagina and identified by morphology and molecular typing within 1 week of commencement of the trial. In another randomized, placebo-controlled trial, GR-1 and RC-14 were given to 64 women for 60 days. Microscopy analysis showed the restoration of healthy vaginal flora level in 37% of women taking GR-1 and RC-14 vs. 13% in subjects in placebo group. Other trials have also confirmed the benefits of GR-1 and RC-14 intake. Lastly, the GR-1 and RC-14 strains used in Fem-Dophilus™ have been shown to be bile tolerant and able to survive passage through the stomach and into the gastrointestinal tract.
Fem-Dophilus® (GR-1/RC-14): Probiotic Dynamics and Vaginal Colonization
Probiotic support for vaginal health with GR-1 and RC-14 taken by mouth at the rate of one capsule per day typically shows significant results within 4 weeks in terms of an increase in ”friendly” lactobacilli and a reduction in less desirable flora. Better results are seen with two months usage. In clinical trials, this has translated to positive reports by the active subjects regarding their vaginal health at rates twice those found with placebo.
Antibiotic use notoriously encourages the vaginal proliferation of yeast and other undesirable flora due to the impact of these drugs on bacteria that normally compete with and control the growth of yeasts and unwanted bacterial species. Therefore, a standing issue with many women is how to maintain a healthful balance of vaginal flora during antibiotic treatment and how to rebalance such flora after a course of treatment. The literature includes reports of clinical trials that have investigated this concern. A double blind randomized, placebo controlled study included 24 women receiving antibiotic therapy for 10 days for an oral, throat or respiratory infection. The women were randomized to receive 2 oral capsules per day of GR-1/RC-14 or placebo for 21 days commencing on the same day that the antibiotic therapy began. With this intake of 2 capsules per day of GR-1/RC-14, a better balance of vaginal flora was maintained in active subjects compared with controls.
Clinical work thus confirms the validity of the use of 1 capsule Fem-Dophilus® (GR-1/RC-14) daily as a support for proper vaginal floral balance and maintenance of urinary tract health. Colonization of the vagina when the GR-1/RC-14 combination is taken by mouth appears in approximately one week. Under conditions known to unfavorably influence vaginal floral balance, such as the use of antibiotics, 2 capsules per day may be required to obtain significant colonization or impact upon floral balance.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
