Clinical Gut Health Intelligence
Providing the latest research on the original De Simone Formulation (CDS22) and high-potency microbiome support in the UK. All content is clinically reviewed to ensure accuracy for patients and healthcare professionals.
The UK’s Specialist Hub for Probiotic Evidence & Gut Health Research
Welcome to the Probiotics UK & Gut Health Knowledge Hub, the central resource for evidence-based research on the original De Simone Formulation (CDS22). This hub provides UK readers, patients, and healthcare professionals with clinical guides, high-potency strain comparisons, and the latest gastroenterology updates dispatched from our Lancashire facility.
Probiotic.co.uk publishes UK-focused guides on probiotics, microbiome science, and digestive health. Articles reference guidance from the NHS, UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) regulations on food supplements, and peer-reviewed clinical research in gastroenterology and microbiome science where relevant.
Our editorial focus includes probiotics for IBS, ulcerative colitis, pouchitis, antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, microbiome restoration after antibiotics, and general digestive health support. Many guides discuss the Original De Simone Formulation (CDS22), a high-strength probiotic formulation studied in more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Content is written for UK readers and reflects UK supplement regulations, NHS clinical pathways, and real-world patient questions commonly seen in gastroenterology practice. From our cold-chain facility in Chorley, Lancashire, we monitor developments in gut microbiome research and translate emerging science into clear guidance for clinicians, pharmacists, and informed consumers across the UK.
Probiotic.co.uk publishes independent, evidence-led guides for UK readers on probiotics, gut health, and food supplements. Every guide cites named published research, references NHS and FSA guidance where relevant, and is written specifically for the UK market.
- What the Clinical Guidelines Say About the De Simone Formulation: The AGA Pouchitis Guideline ExplainedThe AGA 2024 pouchitis guideline (Barnes et al., Gastroenterology, PMID 38128971) names the De Simone Formulation specifically for preventing recurrent pouchitis: 87% lower relapse over 12 months across 3 RCTs, conditional and low certainty. Verified PMIDs, the AGA vs ACG distinction clarified, and the 2016 VSL#3 brand split explained.
- VSL3 Alternative UK: The Original De Simone Formulation is Now CDS22-formulaCDS22 contains the original 8-strain De Simone formulation used in over 80 peer-reviewed trials and referenced in ECCO IBD guidelines. Previously sold as VSL#3 and Vivomixx — same strains, same 450 billion CFU potency, new name.
- De Simone Formulation UK: Complete Legal Timeline, Strains & AvailabilityThe De Simone formulation comprises 8 specific strains including Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 24735 and Bifidobacterium longum DSM 24736, separated from VSL#3 via US and Italian court rulings in 2016.
- What Happened to Vivomixx Probiotic? Is It Still Available in the UK?Vivomixx was reformulated following a legal dispute over the original De Simone formulation. Vivomixx Neo uses a different strain profile with no independent clinical trial history for IBS or ulcerative colitis.
- Revital.co.uk Currently Unavailable? Where to Buy the Original De Simone Probiotic in the UKRevital.co.uk is currently password-protected and in administration. CDS22-formula is available exclusively from Probiotic.co.uk, the authorised UK distributor of the original De Simone formulation.
- The Ultimate Guide to Probiotics in the UK: Benefits, Types & How to ChooseNamed clinical trials (Hill 2014, Ford 2018, Gionchetti 2000), FSA regulatory framework, five-point evaluation checklist, strain types, CFU guidance, and FAQ for UK readers.
- Best Probiotic for UC, IBS & Pouchitis: Evidence-Based UK GuideThe De Simone formulation is the only probiotic referenced in ECCO IBD guidelines for ulcerative colitis and pouchitis, with remission data from Gionchetti 2000 and Mimura 2004.
- Probiotics for Ulcerative Colitis UK: What the Evidence Actually SaysThe De Simone formulation demonstrated statistically significant remission rates in ulcerative colitis in multiple RCTs including Gionchetti 2000 and Mimura 2004, referenced in ECCO IBD guidelines.
- Probiotics for Bloating UK: What the Clinical Evidence Actually ShowsClinical trials on the De Simone formulation — an 8-strain, 450 billion CFU probiotic blend — demonstrate statistically significant reductions in abdominal bloating in IBS patients (Kim et al., Mayo Clinic, 2003 and 2005).
- Best Probiotics for IBS in the UK: Supplements & Foods That Support Gut HealthClinical trials using the De Simone formulation show statistically significant reductions in IBS symptom scores across IBS-D, IBS-C, and IBS-M subtypes.
- The Best Probiotic in the UK for IBS, Gut Health & Post-Antibiotic RecoveryCDS22 contains the original 8-strain De Simone formulation at 450 billion CFU, with peer-reviewed evidence for IBS symptom reduction, post-antibiotic microbiome recovery, and ulcerative colitis remission.
- Probiotics & Gut Health: Why High-Potency Formulas Might Help IBS and BloatingHigh-CFU multi-strain probiotics have demonstrated greater efficacy than single-strain low-dose products in peer-reviewed IBS and bloating trials, with the De Simone formulation studied at 450-900 billion CFU.
- Probiotics After Antibiotics (UK): Can You Take Them Together?2-hour gap rule recommended. Continue 7-14 days post-course. Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea risk 5-30%. Evidence reviewed for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii with NHS and FSA context.
- Intensive Bowel Support (UK): What It Means, When It's Used, and What Clinical Research ShowsThe De Simone formulation studied at doses up to 3,600 billion CFU in peer-reviewed trials for IBD, IBS, and pouchitis. CDS22 available in the UK at 450 billion CFU per sachet and 112 billion CFU per capsule.
- Best Probiotics in the UK: A Pharmacy-Grade Guide to Choosing the Right OnePharmacy-grade criteria applied to CDS22, Symprove, Optibac, and Alflorex. Covers strain specificity, CFU viability, storage requirements, antibiotic timing, and NHS and FSA regulatory guidance.
- Top 20 UK Probiotic Questions Answered 2025 — Benefits, Timing & TipsTwenty evidence-based answers covering probiotic strain selection, CFU requirements, refrigeration, antibiotic timing, IBS protocols, and the clinical history of the De Simone formulation for UK readers.
- Top 50 Gut Health Facts & FAQs (UK Edition)Fifty evidence-referenced gut health facts covering microbiome diversity, probiotic strain specificity, IBS triggers, ulcerative colitis management, and the clinical history of the De Simone formulation. Sourced from ECCO guidelines and Cochrane reviews.
- The 3 Best Probiotic Strains for General Health & Digestive WellnessLactobacillus acidophilus DSM 24735, Bifidobacterium longum DSM 24736, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG are among the most clinically studied strains for IBS, digestive health, and immune modulation.
- Candida-Killing Diet: Part 1 — Foods to AvoidCandida overgrowth is associated with high-sugar, low-fibre diets that deplete beneficial Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium populations. Covers dietary triggers including refined carbohydrates, alcohol, and processed foods linked to Candida albicans proliferation.
- CDS22 vs VSL#3: Original De Simone Formulation Comparison (UK Guide)The current VSL#3 was changed following a 2016 US court ruling separating it from the original De Simone IP. CDS22 contains the original 8 strains at 450 billion CFU with over 80 peer-reviewed trials.
- CDS22 vs Vivomixx Neo: Original De Simone Formulation Comparison (UK Guide)Vivomixx Neo uses a different strain profile to the original De Simone formulation and has no independent clinical trial history for IBS or ulcerative colitis. CDS22 contains the original 8 De Simone strains at 450 billion CFU.
- CDS22 vs Symprove: Evidence-Based Comparison for UK ReadersCDS22 delivers 450 billion CFU across 8 De Simone strains with clinical trial evidence for IBS, UC, and pouchitis. Symprove is a liquid formula studied primarily in IBS-D at significantly lower CFU concentrations.
- CDS22-formula Sachets vs Optibac Every Day (UK Comparison Guide)CDS22 sachets deliver 450 billion CFU across 8 clinically studied De Simone strains versus Optibac Every Day's 5 billion CFU single-strain formula. Covers strain diversity, clinical evidence, and cost per dose.
- Berberine UK: The Natural Supplement Taking Weight Loss & Gut Health by StormBerberine is an alkaloid compound with clinical evidence for blood glucose regulation, LDL reduction, and gut microbiome modulation. Yin et al. 2008 documented comparable effects to metformin at 500mg three times daily.
Reference guides · Educational content · Updated regularly
Barnes et al. (American Gastroenterological Association, Gastroenterology 2024;166(1):59-85, PMID 38128971) state that the evidence favouring probiotics for preventing recurrent pouchitis is limited to the De Simone Formulation, based on three randomised trials showing an 87% lower relapse risk over 12 months (RR 0.17; 95% CI 0.09-0.34; low certainty of evidence). This UK reference guide explains exactly what the AGA pouchitis guideline says, how the De Simone Formulation differs from the post-2016 VSL#3 brand (Fourth Circuit false-advertising ruling; ECCO and ESPEN attribution clarifications), the verified PMIDs, and how the formulation is supplied today as CDS22-formula (8 NCIMB strains, 450 billion CFU, £19.95 per 12-sachet pack), a food supplement under FSA rules, not a medicine, cold-chain delivered across the UK by Probiotic.co.uk.
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CDS22-formula, the original De Simone Formulation (8 strains, 450 billion CFU), was exhibited at BSG LIVE'26, the British Society of Gastroenterology's annual congress, held at ACC Liverpool from 22 to 25 June 2026. This update covers the event, what was shared at the stand with gastroenterology professionals, and how CDS22-formula is supplied across the UK and Ireland through Probiotic.co.uk and Probiotic.ie under FSA food supplement guidelines.
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Looking for a VSL3 alternative in the UK? The original De Simone Formulation — the 8-strain probiotic blend used in over 80 clinical trials and referenced in ECCO IBD guidelines — was once sold as VSL#3, then as Vivomixx. It is now available in the UK as CDS22-formula. Same strains. Same 450 billion CFU potency. New name. This guide explains the full brand history, the 2016 commercial split, and why CDS22 is the only product in the UK today carrying the original clinically-studied De Simone Formulation.
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UK guide: Can you take probiotics with antibiotics? Yes — 2-hour gap rule recommended. Continue 7–14 days post-course. Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea risk 5–30%. Evidence reviewed for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii with NHS and FSA regulatory context.
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CDS22 sachets deliver 450 billion CFU across 8 clinically studied De Simone strains versus Optibac Every Day's 5 billion CFU single-strain formula. This comparison covers strain diversity, clinical trial evidence, and cost-per-dose for UK buyers choosing between everyday maintenance and specialist gut support.
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The current VSL#3 formulation was changed following a 2016 US court ruling that separated the product from the original De Simone IP, removing the 8 clinically studied strains. CDS22 is the only UK product containing the original De Simone formulation at 450 billion CFU, with over 80 peer-reviewed trials supporting its use in IBS, ulcerative colitis, and pouchitis.
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Fifty evidence-referenced gut health facts covering microbiome diversity, probiotic strain specificity, IBS triggers, ulcerative colitis management, and the clinical history of the De Simone formulation. Sourced from ECCO guidelines, Cochrane reviews, and peer-reviewed gastroenterology trials, written for UK readers and healthcare professionals.
Read more- CDS22 contains 8 strains from the original De Simone formulation developed by Professor Claudio De Simone
- The formulation has been studied in over 80 peer-reviewed publications for IBS, ulcerative colitis, and pouchitis
- Referenced in ECCO IBD guidelines and American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) clinical guidance
- The original formulation was previously marketed in the UK as VSL#3 and Vivomixx
- Following a 2016 US court ruling, the De Simone IP was separated from the VSL#3 brand
- CDS22 is the only UK product carrying the original 8-strain formula at 450 billion CFU per sachet
- Available exclusively in the UK from Probiotic.co.uk, dispatched from Chorley, Lancashire