PearlBiotic Spheres
by Dr. Whitaker · tablet or pill · 30 tablets
- Off the market since January 2019 (NIH)
- UPC 6 78829 21271 5
- DSLD label 178777
- Serving 1 tablet
- 30 servings
PearlBiotic Spheres by Dr. Whitaker lists 8 ingredients, 1 with an amount per serving of 1 tablet, such as 25 mg of fructooligosaccharides; 7 sit inside a blend without their own amounts. Its current label entered the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database on July 25, 2018.
What is in PearlBiotic Spheres?
Each row as the label prints it, per serving of 1 tablet. The capsule beside an amount places it among every product in the NIH database that lists the same ingredient: the bar is the middle half of their amounts, the line in it the median, the whiskers the 10th and 90th percentiles; the green tick is the FDA Daily Value and the red dashed tick the adult upper limit (IOM).
| Ingredient | Amount | % DV | Among products listing it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Probiotic Blend | Proprietary Probiotic Blend Note: 2 billion CFU | ||
| L. fermentum | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| L. plantarum | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| L. acidophilus | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| L. rhamnosus | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| L. salivarius | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| B. bifidum | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| B. longum | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Fructooligosaccharides | 25 mg | 88% of 526 products listing fructo-oligosaccharides give more (median 185 mg). |
Source: NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database, label 178777 (entered July 25, 2018), version 9.4.0. See the label on DSLD. Amounts are what the maker printed; DSLD does not test products. Daily Values: the FDA's Daily Value page.
Is that a lot?
The rows in the top or bottom tenth of the products that list the same ingredient, and any above the adult upper limit at the most servings a day the directions give:
- 88% of the 526 products that print an amount of fructo-oligosaccharides list more than its 25 mg of fructooligosaccharides (filed by NIH under fructo-oligosaccharides) (median 185 mg).
The NIH database records one serving a day from the label's directions; its % Daily Values are for adults and children 4 or more years of age. The directions as printed are further down this page.
The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the most of a nutrient per day, from food, water and supplements together, that is likely to pose no risk for almost all adults (Institute of Medicine, 2011). It does not apply under medical supervision. This page compares labels; it is not medical advice.
Sources: amounts from the DSLD label; Daily Values from 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv); adult upper limits from the Institute of Medicine's DRI summary tables (2011). How positions are computed.
Which products have the closest formulas?
4 products list the very same ingredients; the nearest amounts come first.
- Gut HealthSimplyBiotix same ingredients
- PearlBiotic SpheresWhitaker Nutrition same ingredients
- Probiotic AdvantageDr. David Williams · off the market same ingredients
- Probiotic AdvantageWilliams Nutrition same ingredients
- Probiotic BlendpHion Balance 8 shared, 84% alike
- Probiotic pHloraEssante Organics 7 shared, 72% alike
Source: ingredient lists of every product's current label in DSLD (version 9.4.0); similarity weights each shared ingredient by how rare it is.
What does the label say about taking it?
Quoted from the label as DSLD transcribed it: the maker's words, including any claim about what the product does, which the FDA has not evaluated and PlainVitamins does not endorse.
- Directions
- Doctor's Suggested Use: Take 1 time-released tablet daily with water prior to any meal. Do not chew or crush.
- Warnings
- Contains: Milk Contains trace amounts of milk protein from the manufacturing process; however, suitable for individuals following lactose-restricted diets.
- Note: Pregnant or lactating women should consult a health care professional before taking this product.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- Allergens and what it does not contain
- Gluten free
- Storage
- Store with cap tightly closed in a cool, dry place. No refrigeration necessary.
Source: label statements in DSLD label 178777.
What else is on the label?
Other ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Pectin, Stearic Acid, Sodium Carbonate, Guar Gum, Turmeric.
Seals and symbols as the label prints them (the maker's; a certifier's own list confirms a seal): GF Gluten Free.
How many labels does PearlBiotic Spheres have?
One label is on file, entered on July 25, 2018.
- Label 178777 (current) Entered July 25, 2018 · off the market January 10, 2019 · 30 tablets · UPC 6 78829 21271 5
Source: DSLD label entry and market events, version 9.4.0 (labels entered through September 25, 2025).
Who makes it?
The label names Healthy Directions (distributor), Bethesda, MD. All Dr. Whitaker products.