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Bio Complete 3 is a dietary supplement containing a proprietary blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics that is alleged to support gut health.
To date, most gut health research focuses on gut microbiota, which serves as the site that contains the highest number of bacteria.
Gut health is an extension of your immune system which employs a group of good cells/bacteria that work with the host to promote health.
Because Bio Complete 3 relies on probiotics, its group of bacteria helps develop the microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract to promote balance and ensure optimal function.
Gundry MD claims that you will experience the following benefits with daily use of their dietary supplement:
- Weight loss
- Decrease levels of fatigue
- Improved digestion
- Decrease cravings
- Immune system support
In this article, we will help you understand if there is any science backing these claims by reviewing the available research for the active ingredients.
Effectiveness of the Ingredients: Do They Support the Proposed Benefits?
A serving size is four capsules that contains a proprietary blend of ingredients:
- Tributyrin (as CoreBiome ®): 1000 mg
- Sunfiber®: 200 mg
- Bacillus coagulans (ProDURA®) (2 billion CFU): 16 mg
According to the company, you need to take two capsules, which are absorbed quickly, twice per day before eating to experience benefits for your gut.
Below, we will go over the roles of these ingredients to see if the evidence supports the claimed benefits of Bio Complete 3:
Gas, Bloating, Diarrhea, and Constipation Relief
One of the many claims proposed by Gundry MD is the ability to reduce gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.
Sunfiber® is a dietary fiber contained in the proprietary blend of Bio Complete 3.
Studies have found that a diet that is rich in dietary fiber can be an alternative to promote healthy weight while serving to promote a positive balance in the GI tract, and releasing and regulating hormones that associate with feelings of fullness.
A study demonstrated that Sunfiber®, when given in doses of 5 g/day, was able to normalize stool consistency and promote gut microbiota changes.
Bacillus coagulans is lactic acid and a probiotic culture that aids in the digestion of carbohydrates and proteins. B. coagulans can help to enhance the benefits of prebiotics to help promote the growth of more healthy gut bacteria.
B.coagulans was supplemented in 36 patients diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. These patients experienced a significant decrease in clinical symptoms of bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and stool frequency.
Immune Support
Medical literature suggests that diets should include probiotics and prebiotics to enhance the immune response. When consumed in adequate amounts, probiotics and prebiotics may provide various health benefits.
A review was able to recently reveal the benefits of prebiotic and probiotics to enhance the immune response to seasonal influenza vaccine in healthy older adults. However, the amount in this study was more than double the amount contained in Bio Complete 3
The functional properties of dietary fibers, such as Sunfiber®, help protect against intestinal infections, activate bowel function, aid in nutrient digestion and absorption, and stimulate the immune response.
However, the dosage amount contained in the proprietary blend of Bio Complete 3 is much less than was used in the available literature, so it may not be adequate in providing the proposed benefits for immune support.
Weight Loss Aid and Decreased Cravings
Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHHG), now named Sunfiber®, is currently being used in various forms in beverages, food products, and medicinal foods.
Guar Gum is a dietary fiber and, due to its gel-forming capabilities, is involved with reducing macronutrient absorption and slow gastric emptiness.
Tributyrin is a compound of butyrate that is composed of a short-chain fatty acid that serves as a versatile molecule that is produced in the gut by fermenting dietary fiber and can be enriched in butter and other dairy products.
Butyrate has shown some promising effects in various diseases, including obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and colorectal cancer.
A study of Tributyrin suggests that oral administration of 2g/kg of tributyrin 3 times per week effectively protects against a diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice.
The study showed that tributyrin was directly linked to the inhibition of the proinflammatory mediator production of the white blood cells, protecting skeletal muscle against insulin resistance.
Muscle and Joint Pain Relief
More research is required to determine the role of the proprietary blend of the ingredients in Bio Complete 3 for alleviating symptoms of achy muscle and joints.
However, an older study found a decrease in the inflammatory response. Improved muscle integrity was the most effective when B. coagulans were administered with hydroxymethyl butyrate.
Further, butyrate may serve a role in strengthening the intestinal barrier function.
A study done in both humans and mice produced data that suggests a preventative approach for inflammatory diseases by targeting impaired intestinal barrier function.
This study suggests that a dose of 1 g butyrate may be able to decrease the onset of arthritis from occurring, which is similar to the dosage that is contained in Bio Complete 3.
Summary
The benefits proposed by Gundry MD for the Bio Complete 3 may provide varying results due to dosages that are much less than the ones used in the available studies.
Safety
Tributyrin, when taken orally, can be safe at lower doses, but higher doses greater than 10 g/kg can be toxic. However, the dosage contained in Bio Complete 3 is only 1 g.
No adverse effects were noted when PHGG/Sunfiber® was provided in a study at a dose of 5 g/day in patients with chronic abdominal pain and IBS.
B. coagulans have a history of safe consumption in humans, as indicated from a review of toxicology testing studies.
When comparing dosage amounts, a study found that a B. coagulans dose of 2x10(9) CFU/day was found to be safe and effective in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome for 90 days of supplementation.
It is best to take the Bio Complete 3 dietary supplement as indicated on Gundry MD's website. Dosing of any amount should never be increased.
While the safety profile for Bio Complete 3 is favorable, it may not address the underlying cause of your problem.
Therefore, you should seek your physician's opinion if you are experiencing issues affecting your quality of life.
Pricing and Return Policy
Bio Complete 3 is available for sale on Gundry MD’s website and they have options available to provide you savings.
- 1 Bottle (30 capsules): $49.95
- 3 Bottles: $134.85
- 6 Bottles: $254.70
Orders that are over $60 ship for free in the US.
Gundry MD provides a 90-day money-back guarantee, however, this does not cover shipping and handling. In order to process your refund, you will have to contact customer service.
Alternatives to Bio Complete 3
TruBiotics by One A Day could be another option to support digestive and GI health.
TruBiotics offers 2 probiotic strains that have been studied extensively and it is reasonably priced when compared to the many probiotic supplements we have reviewed.
TruBiotics is available in-store or online through Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid. It is likely that you will save more with this product but you would be missing out on certain probiotic strains.
- Walgreens: 30-count $18.99; 45-count $29.99
- CVS: 30-count $21.99
- Rite Aid: 3-count $14.99
The Bottom Line
Bio Complete 3 ingredients may offer support in weight management, though some studies used higher doses to achieve results.
The available research also supports the benefits of probiotics in relieving GI issues, with clinical trials being performed in humans.
To achieve the effects of weight loss, however, you should also include a daily routine exercise, and a well-balanced diet to achieve the same results.
Probiotics may offer benefits that support a variety of digestive and health-related issues. However, it is important to first identify the source of any symptoms you may be experiencing.
Further, the proprietary blend of probiotics in Bio Complete 3 has been studied extensively, especially as it pertains to improving the balance of good and bad bacteria that lines your GI tract.
However, because the proprietary blend of ingredients contained in Bio Complete 3 is smaller when compared to dosage in studies, it may not provide the proposed benefits.
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