SPONSORED ADVERTISING CONTENT

2024's Top 5 Supplements for Acid Reflux & Heartburn

Which Ingredients Produce Results? What To Look For, Avoid + Our Top 5

Advertiser Disclosure

Over a quarter of all American adults feel the toll of occasional acid reflux or heartburn. For many, this leads to anxiety about certain foods, loss of sleep, and lingering discomfort. Thankfully, acid reflux supplements are helping millions find the relief they need.

However, not all these supplements are created equal. Some are made with improper formulations, delivering no actual health benefit.

So how do you find a quality supplement?

Smarter Reviews compiled years of research on this trending issue. In this quick guide, we explain what to look for, what to avoid, and reveal our Top 5 Acid Reflux Supplements of 2022.

How Do You Fight Acid Reflux & Heartburn?

Age and certain lifestyle factors can disrupt the body's digestive process. When food isn’t fully digested, the esophagus stays open. This lets stomach acid into the throat, causing acid reflux and heartburn

New research shows that certain gut bacteria fight these issues. By taking these specific bacterial strains, you can help prevent acid reflux and heartburn while supporting comfort and regularity.

Key Bacteria for Acid Reflux

These species (or "strains") of bacteria produce digestive enzymes that help break down food before issues start.

L. salivarius

Produces protease, which is required to break down red meats properly

L. acidophilus

Produces amylase, critical enzyme for digesting carbohydrates like potatoesbread, and sugar.

L. plantarum

Produces cellulase, the enzyme responsible for comfortably digesting fruits and vegetables.

What Else To Look For

High CFU Count

CFU count refers to how many bacteria a probiotic contains. At high CFU ranges, helpful bacteria can form powerful “colonies,” which help fight all forms of indigestion, gas, and poor regularity with maximum effectiveness. That’s why we recommend probiotics with above 45 billion CFU.

Prebiotics

These unique nutrients feed helpful bacteria and help them grow strong. This leads to increased indigestion support over time.

Acid-Resistant Capsules

These capsules protect bacteria on the way to your gut. This helps them provide maximum relief from acid reflux, heartburnindigestion, and gas.

What To Avoid 

Required Refrigeration

This is a sign of weak capsules that might dissolve in your stomach. This could lead to all the bacteria dying before reaching your gut, rendering your probiotic completely ineffective

Unnecessary Fillers

Companies use these ingredients to cut manufacturing costs. However, they may harm your digestive health, according to recent studies. That’s why we recommend you avoid fillers like magnesium stearate and titanium dioxide.

2024's Top 5 Supplements for Acid Reflux

1. Complete Probiotics Platinum

Total Ranking

9.7/10

A+

Overall Grade

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Contains 51 billion live cultures in each capsule 
  • 11 diverse strains
  • Endorsed by an MD 
  • Outstanding 90% customer satisfaction**
  • Each capsule is acid-resistant
  • 100% Vegan
  • NutraFlora Prebiotic is included
  • Only one capsule per day is needed
  • Has no synthetic fillers or binders
  • Each substrain is listed and has been clinically studied.

CONS

  • Due to popularity, sometimes it's on backorder/sold out
The Bottom Line

In terms of acid reflux support, 1MD Nutrition's Complete Probiotics Platinum® stands out.

By including all three key digestive bacteria, this supplement provides excellent protection against acid reflux and heartburn. Complete Probiotics Platinum also contains a 51 billion CFU dosage, diverse strains, and clinically backed prebiotics in each 1-capsule serving, making for strong digestive support.

We found an impressive 2021 survey on this product:

- Nearly 8 in 10 reported less indigestion and abdominal discomfort**

- Over 80% had less gas and better regularity **


- Over 75% felt these improvements in one month**

Finally, 1MD Nutrition™ backs up every purchase with an impressive 90-day money-back guarantee. We can confidently call Complete Probiotics Platinum® our #1 acid reflux & heartburn supplement of 2022.

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

**Based on a survey of 312 1MD Nutrition customers who have made more than one purchase of Complete Probiotics Platinum.

Learn More

2. Pro-45

Total Ranking

9.5/10

A

Overall Grade

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Provides 45 billion live cultures
  • 11 clinically proven strains
  • No fillers or additives
  • 365-day return policy
  • NutraFlora Prebiotic Fiber included 
  • Dairy and gluten free, vegetable capsules

CONS

  • Not endorsed by an MD
The Bottom Line

Live Conscious came in at a respectable #2 on our list, with a potent 45 billion CFUs and 11 strains.   

Pro45 offers vegetarian delayed release capsules and pure ingredients. We confirmed that there are no unhealthy fillers or additives. We also checked its 365-day return policy and were impressed by how easy and straightforward it was. Our Smarter Shoppers gave this product high marks in the categories of customer service, returns, and overall effectiveness. 

Unfortunately, it's not endorsed by an MD, but easy to order through their Amazon store. Though the reviews were stellar and ingredients are pure, the lack of medical endorsement led this product to come in a close second place on our top picks.*

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

Learn More

3. Extra Care 50 Billion

Total Ranking

8.9/10

B+

Overall Grade

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Provides 50 billion organisms per serving 
  • Dairy and gluten-free, vegetable capsules

CONS

  • Reports of less capsules in bottle than on label
  • No money-back guarantee
  • Refrigeration recommended for best quality and efficacy
The Bottom Line

Some Smarter Shoppers stated that the storage guidelines of this product was inconvenient.* Although the product contains over 50 billion live cultures, many reviewers believed the product lost its potency due to poor refrigeration by delivery.*

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

Learn More

4. Digestive Health Probiotic

Total Ranking

8.7/10

B+

Overall Grade

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Can be found in retail stores
  • Dairy and gluten-free, vegetable capsules

CONS

  • Only offers 10 billion CFUs per serving
  • Contains unhealthy, synthetic fillers
  • Only contains one probiotic strain, Lactobacillus GG
The Bottom Line

This product only offers one probiotic strain, Lactobacillus GG. In addition, this product only contains 10 billion live cultures. Smarter Shoppers noticed fairly short expiration dates. This product contains undesirable fillers and added colors such as gelatin, sucrose, maltodextrin, magnesium stearate, and titanium dioxide.*

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

Learn More

5. Primal Probiotics

Total Ranking

7.9/10

C+

Overall Grade

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Contains 12 probiotic strains
  • Clinically studied strains
  • Shelf-stable

CONS

  • Contains only two prebiotic nutrients
  • Only 31 billion CFU
  • Includes fillers such as magnesium stearate
  • Prebiotics backed by limited clinical studies 
The Bottom Line

Primal Probiotics contains a respectable 12 separate strains of clinically-studied probiotics.

Where Primal Harvest falls short, however, is that it contains only two prebiotic fibers, whereas several are needed to feed the various strains.  Unfortunately, this product also has fillers such as magnesium stearate, which are completely unnecessary.

Still, its commitment to clinically studied strains and shelf-stable bottle give it an edge over many other probiotics. 

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

Learn More

CITATIONS

  1. Dana Oliver. 06/18/2013. Huffington Post. 
  2. Zempleni J1, Hassan YI, Wijeratne SS Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab. (2008)
  3. Arslan M1. Brain Dev. (2009)
  4. Ogawa Y1, et al. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. (2014)
  5. Gehring W, Gloor M. Results of a human in vivo study. Arzneimittelforschung. (2000)
  6. Naziroglu M1, Kokcam. Cell Biochem Funct. (2000)
  7. Quinn KJ, et al. Burns Incl Therm Inj. (1985)
  8. Palmieri B1, Gozzi G, Palmieri G. Int J Dermatol. (1995)
  9. Musalmah M1, et al. Lipids. (2005)
  10. BIOMEDICAL Trichology and Dermathology Clinic. In: Fasulo, C., Linguiti, A., Bosco, L., Morganti, P., & Satriano, R. European Hair Research Society. 2004
  11. Olsen EA1, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. (2006)
  12. Shigemura Y1, et al. J Agric Food Chem. (2009)
  13. Ohara H1, et al. J Dermatol. (2010)
  14. Schwartz SR1, Park J. Clin Interv Aging. (2012)
  15. Iwai K1, et al. J Agric Food Chem. (2005)
  16. Shapiro J, Price VM. Derm Clin 1988;16:341–356
  17. Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie I, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf. In: De Spirit S., Stahl W., Tronnier H., Sies H., Bejot M., Maurrette JM., Heinrich U. 2009 (PubMed)
  18. Stamatiadis D, Bulteau-Portois M, et. al. Br J Dermatol 1988;119:627–632
  19. Baan, R., et al. The Lancet Oncology. Vol. 7 (Apr. 2006). P. 295-296
  20. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/listed_substances_508.pdf
  21. https://cspinet.org/new/pdf/food-dyes-rainbow-of-risks.pdf

Back to the Smarter Choice