You Aren't Spending Enough Money

Digestive Advantage sent out a press release to announce that their trademark combination of probiotics and lactase is now protected by patent as well. So don't even think of copying it.

This isn't really news for anybody outside the company, but what caught my eye was a filler paragraph later on in the release.

"The lactase enzyme market is rather stagnant, with the leading brands declining in sales. We believe this is because it's not the ideal solution to lactose intolerance -- it's not always easy to take a lactase pill before eating dairy, especially if you don't know that the food you're about to eat contains dairy," said Marshall Fong, who heads the marketing team at Ganeden. "Our Digestive Advantage Lactose Intolerance combines lactase enzyme plus probiotics to increase lactose digestion throughout the digestive tract. People love our product because it works, and because they don't need to take it with every meal."

Yes, that's mostly marketing speech. But that first line jumps out. It may even be true. (Oh, I'll hear from them tomorrow.)

The lactase enzyme market is pretty much down to Lactaid, some natural foods brands, and lots of cheap house brand imitations of Lactaid. No new national brands have entered the market for years. The amount of shelf space given to them in stores - always the best indicator of how well something is selling - hasn't grown in many years.

Yet awareness of lactose intolerance is as high as its ever been.

So you aren't doing your part.

Go out and spend some money.

Here's the weird part. Digestive Advantage Lactose Intolerance Lactase Plus Formula and Lactaid and its imitators usually aren't shelved together in the store. How that helps us I can't imagine. Stores need to get their acts together. Tell your store managers.

Digestive Advantage Free Sample

The economy may be imitating the Wacky Wave at a Waterworld Theme Park but there are benefits to be had. Everyone giving out free samples, for one.

I mentioned Lactaid's free samples a few days ago.

Now the folks at Ganeden Biotech have let me know that they're giving away a free 30-day supply of Digestive Advantage Lactose Intolerance formula (or Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Gas Defense Formula) with a $4.95 shipping and handling charge.

Go to their special offer page for all the details.

Sustenex Probiotic

I've written a lot about the Digestive Advantage firm, most recently in Digestive Advantage Update and The Power of Probiotics.

So when I kept seeing ads for a new probiotic in the sunday coupon section I decided to check up on it.

The new product is called Sustenex and even has its own website to talk all about it.

Sustenex is an all new, natural supplement developed to help you maintain a healthy, balanced digestive system and boost your body’s immune system. Sustenex™ contains GanedenBC³⁰, a probiotic or “helpful” bacteria that is beneficial to your overall intestinal health.*

*Even the best probiotics are no substitute for good eating habits which can promote intestinal health.

The site, which is too extensive to cite, attempts to make the case for using a probiotic rather than relaying on yogurt:

The Problem with Probiotics:

▪ The cells don’t survive high heat and pressure inherent in the manufacturing process.
▪ The cells die quickly while on the shelf.
▪ The cells cannot survive stomach acids to populate the colon.
▪ The cells are very sensitive to bile and various enzymes in the gut.

Yogurts

In recent years, yogurt and other cultured dairy drinks have become a popular source of potential probiotics. The challenge is, cultured dairy drinks using traditional probiotics have some of the lowest counts of viable cells. Furthermore, the lactic acid cultures added to aid in the fermentation of the milk components offer little residual benefit. Even fortified probiotic yogurts that add significant levels of bacteria after fermentation have a problem surviving in significant numbers. For example, Consumer Reports did a study in 2006 showing that less than 1% of the bacteria in a leading probiotic yogurt survived to reach the colon. This was considered good when compared to others yogurts and fortified products.

A review on the Walgreens.com site makes an interesting point:

I usually have bad side effects when taking antibiotics, nausea, diarrhea. I had to take a ten day course of antibiotics and took one Sustenex each day. I had absolutely NO side effects the entire 10 days!!! It was wonderful

Doctors often tell patients to eat yogurt to counter the effects of antibiotics, but this had only partial success for me the last time it was necessary. A product that would do better would be a comfort.

Please let me know your experiences with this product so I can share them.

The Power of Probiotics

I write something about probiotics every few days, it seems. I gave a Primer on Probiotics that quoted Katherine Fisher:

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are small organisms that help maintain the natural balance of organisms (microflora) in the intestines also known as gut flora.

The normal human digestive tract contains about 400 types of bacteria that reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and promote a healthy digestive system.

The largest group of probiotic bacteria in the intestine is lactic acid bacteria, of which Lactobacillus acidophilus, found in yogurt and keifer is the best known. Yeast is also a probiotic substance. Probiotics are also available as dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria or yeast, with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as the most common microbes used.

And with Lactagen and Digestive Advantage being two probiotic products that are of huge interest to those with lactose intolerance, everyone should be interested.

But what if you want more than I can give you in a quick blog entry?

Just brand new, hot off the presses is The Power of Probiotics:
Improving Your Health with Beneficial Microbes, by Gary W. Elmer, PhD, Professor, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle; Lynne V. McFarland, PhD, Research Health Science Specialist, Puget Sound Veterans Administration, Health Services Research, and Development, Seattle, Washington; and Marc McFarland, Health Science Writer, Seattle, Washington.

The Haworth Press site gives this blurb:

The Power of Probiotics is a consumer-friendly guide to the selection and use of probiotics that have been proven effective in the prevention and treatment of human diseases. This jargon-free reference resource provides practical advice on how and when to use probiotics and how to select the best commercially available products, based on usefulness, quality, and safety, to lower the risk of disease and maintain a positive health image. The book offers objective information on evaluating product claims, making sense of regulations and labeling, and sorting through manufacturing and marketing issues.

The Power of Probiotics presents an expert review of the scientific evidence for probiotics, illustrated with summary tables and diagrams for quick reference. Each chapter starts with a series of FAQs with clear and concise answers before moving into more in-depth analysis from the book’s authors, who combine more than 20 years of research from the patient clinic and the bench laboratory with extensive experience in writing and translating medical articles for consumer-oriented publications. This unique book presents definitions and descriptions of probiotics and a history of their uses, a review of medical conditions prevented and/or treated by probiotics, available products (with brand names), uses with other medications, and risks and side effects.

I haven't seen the book yet - it's that new - but it sounds like a must to check out. When I do I'll report back if it has something to say about probiotics and dairy.

Digestive Advantage Update

Yesterday I posted comments about Lactagen, a probiotic "solution" to lactose intolerance. Today I want to talk about one of its competitors, Digestive Advantage.


Digestive Advantage is a family of products made by Ganeden Biotech. You can also find them on the Rofay Biomedical site. [Update: The Rofay site no longer says it is the exclusive dealer but, "Comparison shop the web - our prices and shipping cost - give you a total lower cost compared to anyone else on the web!" However, the Ganeden people asked me to assure you that you can get their products at many online stores as well as walk-in stores.]

All the products are made with "healthy bacteria" of the Lactobacillus family. (Not Lactobacillus acidophilus but their own proprietary strains.) There are Digestive Advantage products for Lactose Intolerance - both an adult and a chewable children's version; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - regular and chewable; Crohn’s and Colitis; Constipation; and Gas Prevention.

Just in case: the other Digestive Advantage products say:

Allergy warning: This product may contain trace amounts of casein (milk protein).

However, neither the Digestive Advantage LI nor Children's LI have even a trace of casein. And of course a trace of casein is only a concern for people with the most severe dairy allergies, although it does mean it is not acceptable for vegans and must be watched by those keeping Kosher. Casein is not a problem for anyone with just lactose intolerance, though.

The children's version is chewable and cherry-flavored, but otherwise the same as the adult version. There is not a children's "dose" of a probiotic, since it is not a drug.

The difference between Lactagen and Digestive Advantage are, in my opinion, more in the way they are marketed than in biochemistry. Lactagen puts itself forward as a one-time, 38-day course of probiotics. It's therefore much more expensive at $149.95. Digestive Advantage is meant to be taken regularly as a daily supplement. It is much cheaper at first - 32 caplets for $9.99 [as of March 2009] - but over time it will cost more than Lactagen. The other difference is that Digestive Advantage comes with lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose. This may be of some help, but since you only take Digestive Advantage once a day and lactase should really be taken with the first bite of dairy I find that this is not a significant advantage.

Just as I did with Lactagen, I'm posting some of the comments I've received in emails.

● I just wanted to send an e-mail expressing how much I like their products. I have been diagnosed with ulcerated colitis and the only medication that gave me any relief along with increased weight gain and a very chubby face was prednisone. The last medication was a heavy duty immune suppressant that made my hair brittle, my skin break and bleed and really didn't help me that much. The doctor said that my colon on a scale from 1-10 is a 9 for not very good. I have recently started to use the Digestive Advantage for ulcerated colitis and another product called Sustence and I finally am seeing some relief. I hope that they never go out of business. I have had this trouble for the last 10 years and now I am feeling so much better. I have spent a lot of money on different products and medications trying to get relief and this product is the best I have found so far. - Dianne

● I've tried DA for about 1 month now, and am very pleased with the results. Stomach pain which was almost constant is gone. - S.

● I have been using Digestive Advantage for over a year. I was amazed at how well they worked. Now I take one pill a day and eat ANYTHING I want. For years I used other products, taking several whenever I thought something might have milk products in it and never being symptom free. I can't tell you how many times I have been up almost all night with terrible cramps and diarrhea. Now the only time I have those old familiar symptoms is the very rare times I forget to take my morning pill! - Kaye

● +1 for positive experiences

I'd consider my lactose intolerance mild to medium, having started (or when I noticed a connection) in my mid-20's. Prior to Digestive Advantage, my solution was diary avoidance or Lactaid Ultra tablets (which wasn't nearly as effective as DA). - Reginald

● A friend suggested Lactaid but when I saw Digestive Advantage was once a day, I thought we would try that instead. Yesterday we did a test with ice cream and he had no pain and no diarrhea. This morning he had milk with his cereal and again no problems. We will continue to limit his intake but it’s nice to know that he can enjoy parties again and not be afraid that he won’t make it to a bathroom. I will be contacting his doctor to make sure he can continue to take Digestive Advantage but, as a Mom, this has been a life saver to a 10 year old boy. - BB

● I wanted to let you know that I tried Digestive Advantage (after a long period of dithering because if it doesn't work, the consequences are so unpleasant...). I wish I had done so sooner! My entire inside felt different. More at rest, as it were. More sturdy. More able to withstand. And I of course went wild, after initial caution, and ate dairy desserts, drank a milkshake (a very strange and scary thing to do after years of abstinence) and had a wonderful time. It seems to work all right, especially if I took the recommended 2 a day for sensitive people. Definitely well enough to merit further extensive testing. - Karen

● I found Digestive Advantage through your site and want to let you know that it's been working for me. I tried the free sample and thought it seemed promising (though the sample wasn't enough for me to decide whether to keep using the product. The sample is enough for 6 days, and it took over a week to really have an effect). I've now been using it for over a month, and it's great. Not 100% perfect, but SO much better than depending on Lactaid. The main advantage is not having to worry about hidden dairy products. But I've been able to eat pizza and ice cream (not together) with acceptable ill effects (I'd rather not go into graphic details). The main drawback is cost -- you have to take it every day. But I found it at a good price on eBay. - Robert

But as I always warn people, nothing works for everybody.

● My 14 year old daughter has been taking this product for months. We were so happy to find something she could take once a day instead of always trying to remember to bring her lactaid pills. But now it seems to be not working as well. She has not taken any antibiotics or other medications. - Devon

Still, overall the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Since it is a probiotic, it may be affected by antibiotics. Antibiotics will kill the "good" bacteria along with the "bad." There's nothing that can be done about it except to start over and re-colonize the bacteria.

There you have it. Two effective, outwardly similar products that approach the marketing in totally different directions. Your choice. Both should work. For some people the daily dose of probiotic may be more effective; for others the short course will work fine.

For previous comments on Digestive Advantage, see 'Get Uncorked and Go to Cork!' (2/12/2007); Vampire Vic and his digestive woes (10/26/2006); and Digestive Advantage (5/10/2006).

'Get Uncorked and Go to Cork!'

I missed scooping the world. Dovid from Ganeden Biotech, the makers of Digestive Advantage, sent me advance word on their new contest on Friday and I put off dealing with it until I had a few minutes to look it over. Ah well, so the press release snuck out just a few minutes ago before I could post this here.

You're still among the very first to get the word, though.

I'll put it out straight: the jokes will write themselves.


Digestive Advantage is promoting its Constipation Therapy probiotic capsules with a story contest on constipation. Grand Prize is a trip to Cork, Ireland. Hence the contest name. 'Get Uncorked and Go to Cork!'

(Dovid is a copywriter, BTW. How much credit or blame he gets for the slogan is yet to be determined.)

Go to the contest site and you'll see the details:

Create a fun story centered on constipation – extra points will be awarded if it takes place in Cork County or Cork, Ireland.

The story should be no longer than 800 words. Be a little unconventional. But, keep it clean and fun. And if you think a photo will enhance your story, feel free to send that as well.

Grand Prize: A trip for two to Cork, Ireland, including roundtrip airfare and hotel!

ENTER NOW TO WIN!

Submit your story either electronically or by mail.
Entries can be sent to:
getuncorked@ganedenbiotech.com

or

GET UNCORKED AND GO TO CORK!
Ganeden Biotech, Inc.
5915 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 304
Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44124

Five finalists will be selected by a panel of judges. Those five essays will be posted online from April 30 through May 11, 2007 at www.ganedenbiotech.com where consumers will vote to select the Grand Prize winner. The winner will be announced on or about May 31, 2007.

No purchase necessary and there is no cost to enter the contest. Promotion ends April 20, 2007. Must be 21 to enter. Complete Official Rules.

Void where prohibited.

All submissions become the property of Ganeden Biotech, Inc.

Vampire Vic and his digestive woes

Dovid Rotshtein, a copywriter over at Ganeden Biotech, Inc., the maker of the Digestive Advantage line of probiotic products for people with lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, and other gas-related problems, sent me this Youtube video.

It was made by a couple of their employees as a Halloween spoof of their commercials.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOVX3TyKYUE


Rotshtein called it HILARIOUS. Enjoy.

Kids and Lactose Intolerance

I've been writing a lot about kids and dairy allergies, because that can be a scary topic for parents in a new school year.

But what about those children with lactose intolerance?

That's actually a harder subject in some ways, because the vast majority of kids who are lactose intolerant do not have to give up dairy entirely. Yes, despite all the scare stories you may have read, a small amount of lactose, especially in cookies or cake or other desserts, probably won't result in any symptoms at all. Most kids just need to be careful not to have too much at once. The problem is that sensitivity is totally individual. Allergic kids can simply be told not to touch dairy. Ever. Once lactose intolerant kids get old enough to understand the problem, though, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for them. Trial and error is the only approach.

One thing you as parents can do is make sure that your children always have a supply of lactase pills with them just in case. A number of companies make chewable, flavored pills that are easier for kids to use. You can see them on my lactase pills page.

Digestive Advantage also makes a version of its probiotic plus lactase pills for children. They say that the advantage is that the pills need only be taken once a day so children don't have to remember taking them with food or even bothering to question what's in food. That would be enormously helpful, since most kids won't want to interrupt the process of getting something tasty for questions or pills.

I can't say if the pills work, although many people have sent me emails that they have had good experience with other Digestive Advantage products. If you do try them, please let me know how they work, one way or the other.

Prebiotics and Probiotics

Everyone who has lactose intolerance should know by now that one of the major sources of symptoms can be the bacteria that live in your colon. More than 500 known species of bacteria have been found living in people, and like any group of 500 you find a range from the very good to the very bad.

For us, the bad bacteria are the ones that ferment any lactose that reaches them. The fermentation process releases gas, just like it does when beer is made. And you probably know all too well what the gas can do.

You can change the "bad" bacteria into "good" bacteria, the type that digests lactose rather than ferments it by using probiotics. Probiotics, literally "for life" contain the good bacteria and the idea is that the good bacteria will dominate the bad ones. I've written many times before about probiotics. The live and active cultures in yogurt are probiotics. You can also buy the bacteria in pill form in such products as Digestive Advantage and Lactagen.

What are prebiotics? Wesley Canfield of the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center talks about them in his column.

Prebiotics ("before life") are nondigestible or fiber components of foods, usually complex carbohydrates that beneficially affect the host by stimulating the growth of intestinal bacteria. Certain bacteria prefer a particular prebiotic to use as a source of energy.

There are some potentially major advantages to eating more prebiotics, he says.

In addition to making vitamins, intestinal bacteria also produce other nutrients of benefit. We've all heard advice about limiting our intake of fats, especially saturated ones. However, not all saturated fats are bad for us. Many of the gut bacteria ferment digestion-resistant fiber to short-chain saturated fatty acids. These fats have two to four carbon atoms.

Acetate, propionate and butyrate all are examples of SCFA. Some scientists estimate that up to 10 percent of a person's daily energy needs can be met by using the SCFA as fuel. Butyrate, in particular, has been shown to have anti-cancer effects in animals. In addition, a probiotic containing butyrate-producing bacteria also reduced cancer formation in an animal model.

Another way of increasing butyrate production by intestinal bacteria is to eat prebiotics similar to the high-galactose type found in breast milk. Inulin, for example, is a type of high-fructose, nondigestible fiber that is present in wheat and onions. Many studies in both humans and animals have demonstrated the bifidobacteria-promoting benefits of inulin and other high-fructose prebiotics.

Prebiotics and probiotics. All part of a good healthy diet. Eat enough of them and hopefully you won't have to take any antibiotics.

Digestive Advantage

I received an email from Gerti Sonderquist of Digestive Advantage with updated information about their product. I've made the changes to all the page on my web site, so it's a good time to mention them here as well.

Digestive Advantage is one of a couple of products with a different approach to combating the symptoms of lactose intolerance (LI). They all take advantage, pun intended, of the fact that LI symptoms have two causes. First, undigested lactose will pull water out into the intestines and create diarrhea. Second, undigested lactose may be fermented by bacteria that naturally live in the colon, creating gas and bloating.

Different people may get symptoms from one or both of these causes, depending on any number of factors. Lactase taken with food should help most everybody, but it's a good idea to also change the bacteria to the type of bacteria that digests lactose rather than ferments it.

Digestive Advantage does have lactase in it, but since you take it only once a day, I don't consider that a help. Lactase needs to be taken with food that contains dairy. (See When to Take Your Lactase.)

More important, from my perspective, it contains a "patented, proprietary Lactobacillus culture." Once this culture colonizes – takes over – your colon, your symptoms should improve.

I've received a large number of emails from readers who tell me that Digestive Advantage really works as advertised.

"I tried Digestive Advantage yesterday, and it worked great. I waited until Saturday so I could be at home for this experiment (I'm sure you understand why). I took two caplets in the morning, then had cheese, milk chocolate, and pizza with extra cheese throughout the day. I kept waiting to get violently ill, but I was fine all day yesterday and today. By the way, I am SEVERELY lactose intolerant---even a little bit of whey in a cookie and I am sick for hours. Hope this helps."

"I have been using Digestive Advantage for a little over a year and I love it. I take one pill a day and can now eat many things that I could not before. I still avoid high lactose foods, but can now eat things like pizza without discomfort."

"I've been taking this product for about a month and a half. It works great! I'm in sales and marking and have to take clients to lunch and dinner quite often. I was always fearful of eating out, especially with clients as diarrhea would start just about immediately after eating. I travel extensively as well and being on an airplane was nerve racking! This product is the only thing I have found that gives me confidence and relief of my symptoms. I can live my life again!"

I cannot guarantee that Digestive Advantage will work this well – or at all – for everybody. If you would like to try it, Gerti reminded me that:

we give out free 8 day samples for anyone who is interested by calling toll free 800.456.0276 or going to our website – www.ganedenbiotech.com

Other contact info:
Ganeden Biotech, Inc.
5915 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 304
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124

440-229-5200 Main Phone
440-229-5240 Fax

email: info@ganedenbiotech.com

Ganendan also makes a line of other digestive lactobacillus products. And it's now appearing in supermarkets in the digestive aids or laxatives section of supermarkets. A full page of coupons appeared in my local paper recently. You can also find them on Internet shopping sites if they're not in your local stores.

Let me know how they work for you.