The 7 Best Probiotics for Weight Loss, According to Registered Dietitians

UltraFlora Control by Metagenics contains Bifidobacterium lactis B420, a probiotic strain that “has been shown in a top-quality study to help with weight loss, and Health Canada even approves it for that purpose,” says Elena Usdenski, RD, a certified fertility and prenatal dietitian.

“In [another older] study, people who took this probiotic without changing anything else about their habits lost about 5 percent of their body fat over six months,” adds Usdenski.

While further studies are needed, this supplement contains a probiotic strain with the potential to aid in weight loss.

This supplement provides a potent dose of 10 billion CFU, or colony-forming units, which meets the recommended minimum requirement of at least 1 billion CFU by the National Institutes of Health. The CFU count specifies the number of live bacteria in the supplement.

Garden of Life is our pick for the best probiotic for weight loss for women, as the strains present are beneficial for women’s vaginal health and weight management. The Garden of Life brand is doctor-formulated.

“Garden of Life Once Daily Women's Probiotic is third-party verified and contains 16 probiotic strains, including L. reuteri and L. fermentum — clinically studied strains shown to support women’s health. It’s guaranteed [to contain] 50 billion CFUs. It also contains prebiotic fiber,” says Katherine Brooking, a registered dietitian in New York City.

Prebiotics are beneficial fibers that feed probiotic bacteria, fostering their growth and activity in the body. But while prebiotics are generally beneficial, some people may experience gas or bloating as they adjust to taking them.

Several other strains present in this product have also been linked to weight loss, specifically including Lactobacillus gasseri, L. rhamnosus, and Bifidobacterium lactis.

Biotics 8 is our top choice for men, as the 10 probiotic strains present may be beneficial for men’s gut health. We love that this supplement is GMP-certified for good manufacturing practices, ensuring its production is held to the highest safety and quality standards.

“Biotics 8 provides both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, the specific strains shown to support weight management. With a substantial dosage of 20 billion CFUs per serving, Biotics 8 ensures that men receive a sufficient amount of beneficial bacteria to optimize not only their gut health but also their weight management efforts,” says Emily Hirsch, RD, a health writer and the owner of South Charlotte Nutrition in North Carolina.

“The product also provides 10 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D3, which is a nice added bonus as some studies have found a connection between optimal vitamin D levels and healthy testosterone levels. Additionally, the product contains a variety of digestive enzymes to help prevent digestive discomfort,” adds Hirsch.

Moreover, it contains chicory root prebiotic fiber, which can help feed the multiple probiotic strains present.

Culturelle Women’s Wellness Probiotic is our top pick for menopausal weight loss, based on its variety of strains that support women’s health. According to U.S. News & World Report, Culturelle is the No. 1 recommended pharmacist brand and is well respected within the healthcare community for its high-quality ingredients, manufacturing process, and stringent product testing.

This product contains 12 billion CFUs and five Lactobacillus strains linked to weight loss and women’s health.

“Culturelle’s Women’s Wellness Probiotic has several probiotic strains that support women’s health in general, but they include the strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus, which [some] research shows may aid in weight loss, and may be more effective in women than men,” says Jen Scheinman, RDN, the owner of Next Jen Health. The four other strains present are abundantly found in healthy vaginal microbiomes.

These Culturelle chewables are also packaged with a special desiccant (a drying agent that can be made of materials like silica gel or calcium oxide) lining to absorb moisture and protect the viability of the live bacteria present. And if you prefer a chewable over a pill, this mixed berry chew is tasty.

If you’re looking for general gut health support in addition to weight loss, RenewLife’s Extra Care Digestive Probiotic is a good choice. And by improving your gut health, you may also be able to support your weight loss efforts by default.

“This particular probiotic features 50 billion CFUs and contains 12 different diverse probiotic strains in just one capsule per day. By including a variety of strains, the probiotic helps to target a range of digestive issues, including bloating, constipation, and occasional gas,” says Kathryn Durston, RDN, the owner of Naturally Good Nutrition.

“It also includes one of the most well-researched probiotic strains for gut health, the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG strain, which was the first probiotic strain to be patented back in 1989 for its gut health benefits,” adds Durston.

Bifidobacterium lactis is also one of the most prominent strains in this supplement, one of the top strains linked to weight loss.

According to Durston, “You can take RenewLife’s probiotic as a preventive measure to support daily digestive health.”

While not common, a few people reported diarrhea after taking this supplement, and the product had a strong flowery and alcohol-like smell.

If you suffer from occasional bloating, Phillips Colon Health 4-in-1 Daily Probiotic contains a formulation that can reduce abdominal bloating.

“To minimize bloating, I recommend Phillips Colon Health 4-in-1 probiotics. These capsules contain Bifidobacterium bifidum, a strain of bacteria that research shows can help reduce abdominal bloating,” says Sarah Garone, a nutritionist and food writer.

This product contains 3 billion CFU two targeted strains: Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB-12), one of the most studied probiotic strains of the Bifidobacterium genus.

In addition to occasional bloating, L. rhamnosus may reduce bloating related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), some research suggests.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, NOW Probiotic-10 is a good, affordable choice. The NOW supplement brand is well known and respected in the registered dietitian community because of its stringent testing and quality standards.

“NOW’s Probiotic-10 formula provides a blend of 10 different probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which are known for their beneficial effects on gut health and weight management. This product provides 25 billion CFUs per serving at a very reasonable price point,” says Hirsch.

This product is also unique in that the probiotic strains have been identity-verified using DNA-fingerprinting technology, ensuring accuracy on labeling.

“I recommend NOW Probiotic-10 for its variety of live probiotic strains that are known to naturally thrive in the digestive tract,” echoes Gaw.

One factor some customers noted was that the product can come delivered too warm, which could affect the viability of the bacteria present. To reduce this risk, it’s best to try to be home when the product is delivered so you can quickly transfer the bottle to a cool, dry place.