Evaluating the Compositional Quality of Probiotics Containing Bacillus clausii in India.

INTRODUCTION: The quality of probiotics is crucial for their effectiveness and safety. Many studies have found discrepancies between the claimed and the actual content of microorganisms in probiotics. However, only few studies have assessed the quality of these products in India. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of various probiotics containing Bacillus clausii in India. METHODS: Eleven commercially available probiotics containing Bacillus clausii were selected: Enterogermina® (reference product), Bifilac clausii™, Entromax®, Progermina™, Entroflora™, Novogermina™, Tufpro™, Gutgermina®, Eco-All™, Entero clausi™, and Medogermina®. Suspensions were cultured and subcultured in selective media to identify Bacillus clausii colonies. Purity, viable spore load, and antibiotic resistance were assessed. RESULTS: The assessed parameters varied significantly among the probiotics. Enterogermina® was contamination-free, with a spore count of 2 billion/5 mL and showed resistance to all tested antibiotics. Progermina™ and Eco-all™ had higher spore counts than claimed but were contaminated with Bacillus cereus. Contaminants were found in all products except Enterogermina® and Medogermina®. Most of the products showed no antibiotic resistance. CONCLUSION: The study revealed significant differences in the quality of probiotics on the Indian market, highlighting concerns about their potency and safety. Stringent quality control is necessary to ensure consumer safety and help healthcare professionals make informed decisions.