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Dietary supplement

Bifido GI Balance Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Life Extension

Bifido GI Balance label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Bifido GI Balance against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Bifido GI Balance is a dietary supplement by Life Extension with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for digestive health and regularity, irritable bowel syndrome (ibs), diarrhea (including antibiotic-related).Based on those ingredients, 182 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Bifidobacterium longum BB536. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Bifido GI Balance by Life Extension

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Bifido GI Balance by Life Extension — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Bifido GI Balance by Life Extension

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 16, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Bifido GI Balance contains one active ingredient: Bifidobacterium longum BB536, a strain of probiotic bacteria meant to support digestive health. The product also includes inactive ingredients—microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable cellulose, tapioca starch, stearic acid, and silica—which are fillers and capsule materials that don't have a therapeutic role.

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Bifidobacterium Longum's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Promotes intestinal health.
  • We looked for evidence on: Abdominal pain, Antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Celiac disease, Clostridioides difficile infection, Colic, Constipation — and 4 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Bifidobacterium Longum is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Bifidobacterium Longum is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Constipation, Diarrhea, Helicobacter pylori, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and more.

The data we hold doesn't establish that Bifidobacterium longum is effective for any of the conditions studied—age-related cognitive decline, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), antibiotic-associated diarrhea, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), asthma, or athletic performance. For all of them, evidence is rated insufficient to say either way.

If you're considering this for a specific health goal, talk with your doctor about what the research supports for you.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Bifidobacterium Longum

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Bifidobacterium longum is generally well tolerated in healthy people, but caution is needed if you're seriously ill or immune-compromised—in rare cases, the bacteria themselves have caused bloodstream infections in critically ill patients and preterm infants. When taken by mouth, a small number of people have reported abdominal discomfort, bloating, flatulence, constipation, or rarely a dry cough.

Safety data are limited, so use it only with your doctor's guidance. If you're breastfeeding, there isn't enough data to know whether it's safe, so check with your doctor before starting.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Bifidobacterium Longum

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Bifidobacterium Longum.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 182 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before you start Bifido GI Balance, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take antibiotic drugs—the timing of when you take them matters, because antibiotics can kill the live bacteria in this product and reduce its effect. No other medication types interact with this ingredient in our data.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This single-strain probiotic is generally well tolerated in healthy people, but it's not effective for the conditions studied according to our data. If you're seriously ill, immune-compromised, or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor first.

Most importantly, if you take antibiotics, coordinate the timing with your pharmacist so the two don't work against each other.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Aug 23, 2020.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Bifido GI Balance, straight from the product label.

Brand Life Extension
Barcode (UPC) 737870162261
Net contents 60 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Aug 23, 2020
DSLD ID 232059
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Bifido GI Balance by Life Extension, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
UPC/BARCODE
737870162261
IngredientAmount% DV
Bifidobacterium longum BB53625 mg--

Other ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Vegetable Cellulose, Tapioca Starch, Stearic Acid, Silica

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Read the entire label and follow the directions carefully prior to use. Directions: Take one (1) capsule once or twice daily, with or without food, or as recommended by a healthcare practitioner.

Storage

For optimal potency, refrigerate after opening. Store tightly closed in a cool, dry place.

Precautions

Warnings: Keep out of reach of children.

Do not exceed recommended dose. Do not purchase if outer seal is broken or damaged.

When using nutritional supplements, please consult with your physician if you are undergoing treatment for a medical condition or if you are pregnant or lactating.

To report a serious adverse event or obtain product information, contact 1-866-280-2852.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

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.

Formulation

Promotes intestinal health

Non GMO LE Certified

Seals/Symbols

Non GMO LE Certified

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Brand IP Statement(s)

BB536 is a registered trademark of Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Bifido GI Balance by Life Extension label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Bifido GI Balance label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Bifido GI Balance by Life Extension

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Vegetarian Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Bifidobacterium longum BB536

Interacts with
182 drugs
25 mg per serving

Bifidobacterium longum is a 'friendly' bacterium found naturally in the human gut and used as a probiotic. It is generally well tolerated and is most...

Bifidobacterium longum BB536 monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Vegetable Cellulose, Tapioca Starch, Stearic Acid, Silica. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Bifido GI Balance by Life Extension Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Bifido GI Balance?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
182Drugs
182 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Bifidobacterium longum BB536 182

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Bifido GI Balance interact with 182 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Bifido GI Balance interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Bifidobacterium longum BB536

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Bifido GI Balance with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Bifidobacterium longum BB5361 drug type · 182 drugs

Antibiotic Drugs

Theoretically, taking Bifidobacterium longum with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of B. longum.
Since B. longum preparations usually contain live and active organisms, simultaneously taking antibiotics might kill a significant number of the organisms. Tell patients to separate administration of antibiotics and B. longum preparations by at least 2 hours.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Bifidobacterium longum BB536 full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Bifido GI Balance, from the product label.

Life Extension

See all Life Extension products
Name
Quality Supplements and Vitamins, Inc.
City
Ft. Lauderdale
State
FL
ZipCode
33309
Phone Number
1-866-280-2852
Web Address
LifeExtension.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Bifido GI Balance by Life Extension: Common Questions

Does Bifido GI Balance by Life Extension interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Bifido GI Balance has a known interaction with 182 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Bifido GI Balance contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
What exactly is Bifidobacterium longum?
It's a strain of probiotic bacteria—live beneficial organisms meant to support digestive health. This product contains the specific strain BB536.
Can I take this while I'm on antibiotics?
Not at the same time. Antibiotics can kill the live bacteria in this product and make it less effective. Ask your pharmacist how to space them apart—usually several hours apart works best.
Is this safe if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
Pregnancy is rated possibly safe, but breastfeeding safety isn't well established—there isn't enough data to know either way. Talk with your doctor before starting if you're breastfeeding.
What side effects should I watch for?
Most people tolerate it well. Rare side effects include abdominal discomfort, bloating, flatulence, constipation, or a dry cough. If you're seriously ill or have a weak immune system, there's a rare risk of infection, so check with your doctor first.
Does this actually work for digestive health?
The evidence we hold doesn't establish that it's effective for the conditions studied—including antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Talk with your doctor about whether probiotics make sense for your situation.
Who shouldn't take this?
If you're critically ill, have a weakened immune system, or are breastfeeding, check with your doctor first. Don't take it at the same time as antibiotics without asking your pharmacist about timing.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Bifido GI Balance is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Bifido GI Balance label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Bifido GI Balance’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Bifidobacterium Longum

Interacts with 182 drugs

Bifidobacterium longum is a 'friendly' bacterium found naturally in the human gut and used as a probiotic. It is generally well tolerated and is most studied for digestive issues, though evi...

Read the full Bifidobacterium Longum monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Bifido GI Balance's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 21 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Bifidobacterium Longum 21 references
  1. Ha GY, Yang CH, Kim H, Chong Y. Case of sepsis caused by Bifidobacterium longum. J Clin Microbiol 1999;37:1227-8.
  2. Pierce A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. New York: The Stonesong Press, 1999:19.
  3. Xiao JZ, Takahashi S, Odamaki T, et al. Antibiotic susceptibility of bifidobacterial strains distributed in the Japanese market. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2010;74(2):336-42. PubMed
  4. Rautava S, Kainonen E, Salminen S, Isolauri E. Maternal probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and breast-feeding reduces the risk of eczema in the infant. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012;130(6):1355-60. PubMed
  5. Pruccoli G, Silvestro E, Pace Napoleone C, Aidala E, Garazzino S, Scolfaro C. Are probiotics safe? Bifidobacterium bacteremia in a child with severe heart failure. Infez Med. 2019;27(2):175-178.
  6. Pellonperä O, Vahlberg T, Mokkala K, et al. Weight gain and body composition during pregnancy: a randomised pilot trial with probiotics and/or fish oil. Br J Nutr. 2020 Nov 4:1-11. PubMed
  7. Pellonperä O, Mokkala K, Houttu N, et al. Efficacy of fish oil and/or probiotic intervention on the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus in an at-risk group of overweight and obese women: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial PubMed
  8. Shahriari A, Karimi E, Shahriari M, Aslani N, Khooshideh M, Arab A. The effect of probiotic supplementation on the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus among high-risk pregnant women: A parallel double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial PubMed
  9. Esaiassen E, Hjerde E, Cavanagh JP, Simonsen GS, Klingenberg C; Norwegian Study Group on Invasive Bifidobacterial Infections. Bifidobacterium bacteremia: Clinical characteristics and a genomic approach to assess pathogenicity. J Clin Microbiol. 2017;55(7) PubMed
  10. Enomoto T, Sowa M, Nishimori K, et al. Effects of bifidobacterial supplementation to pregnant women and infants in the prevention of allergy development in infants and on fecal microbiota. Allergol Int 2014;63(4):575-85. PubMed
  11. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dear Healthcare Provider Letter: Warning Regarding Use of Probiotics in Preterm Infants. September 2023. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/media/172606/download?attachment. Accessed November 1, 2023.
  12. Pillai A, Tan J, Paquette V, Panczuk J. Does probiotic bacteremia in premature infants impact clinically relevant outcomes? A case report and updated review of literature. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020;39:255-259. PubMed
  13. Sabaté JM, Iglicki F. Effect of Bifidobacterium longum 35624 on disease severity and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. World J Gastroenterol 2022;28(7):732-744.
  14. Malaguarnera M, Greco F, Barone G, Gargante MP, Malaguarnera M, Toscano MA. Bifidobacterium longum with fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) treatment in minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Dig Dis Sci 2007;52(11) PubMed
  15. Zbinden A, Zbinden R, Berger C, Arlettaz R. Case series of Bifidobacterium longum bacteremia in three preterm infants on probiotic therapy. Neonatology 2015;107(1):56-9.
  16. Tamaki H, Nakase H, Inoue S, et al. Efficacy of probiotic treatment with Bifidobacterium longum 536 for induction of remission in active ulcerative colitis: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled multicenter trial. Dig Endosc 2016;28(1):67-74.
  17. Bertelli C, Pillonel T, Torregrossa A, et al. Bifidobacterium longum bacteremia in preterm infants receiving probiotics. Clin Infect Dis 2015;60(6):924-7. PubMed
  18. Esaiassen E, Cavanagh P, Hjerde E, Simonsen GS, Støen R, Klingenberg C. Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis bacteremia in 3 extremely preterm infants receiving probiotics. Emerg Infect Dis 2016;22(9):1664-6.
  19. Tena D, Losa C, Medina MJ, Sáez-Nieto JA. Peritonitis caused by Bifidobacterium longum: case report and literature review. Anaerobe 2014;27:27-30. PubMed
  20. Sangkanjanavanich S, Pradubpongsa P, Mitthamsiri W, Sangasapaviliya A, Boonpiyathad T. Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 efficacy in patients with uncontrolled asthma: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2022;129(6):790-792. PubMed
  21. Wilson HL, Ong CW. Bifidobacterium longum vertebrodiscitis in a patient with cirrhosis and prostate cancer. Anaerobe 2017;47:47-50. PubMed

See these in context on the Bifidobacterium Longum monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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