In the past decade, probiotic-based nutritional supplements have skyrocketed in popularity to aid in weight management, gastrointestinal issues, mental health, and the overall state of our immune system. In fact, studies show that among adults, probiotics or prebiotics are the third most commonly used dietary supplement after vitamins and minerals.1
Bio Complete 3 is a dietary supplement boasting a three-pronged approach to digestive health. It combines prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics to support your gastrointestinal lining and the healthy bacteria that thrive in your gut microbiome. This, in turn, can improve digestion and immune health. In our full review below, we’ll detail the science behind Bio Complete 3 and offer our analysis and testing experiences with the product so you can determine if it’s right for you.
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We recommend Bio Complete 3 for gut health support. Bio Complete 3’s main ingredients have scientific backing for improving healthy digestion and are included in safe dosages. While claims to improve weight loss and reduce unhealthy cravings are less concrete, the combination of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics offers a solid formula to support your gut lining and the healthy bacteria in your gut microbiome. Bio Complete 3 is on the pricey side, however.
Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions involving staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles. To provide you with an unbiased review, we extensively researched and evaluated Bio Complete 3 by examining more than 55 scientific studies focused on its ingredients. We also tested the customer experience and evaluated Bio Complete 3 against similar products to see how it compares across the probiotic landscape.
We evaluate the products and services we review based on current health standards and research, continually assessing our information to ensure it’s up-to-date. Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.
We used four main criteria to evaluate Bio Complete 3: efficacy, safety, cost, and convenience. When breaking down whether or not a supplement is likely to be effective, we look at the individual ingredients and what dosages they are in, along with current, relevant research studies to back it up. Safety is evaluated by the confirmation of safe ingredient dosages, ingredients with minimal adverse side effects, and the implementation of quality practices like third-party testing and manufacturing in a GMP-certified facility.
Our next criterion, cost, isn’t just the sticker price; we consider company deals, subscription savings, and shipping fees to paint the whole picture. And lastly, we considered convenience when evaluating Bio Complete 3. This includes not just the experience of taking the supplement but also the ease of purchasing it and how responsive customer support is to inquiries.
Efficacy
While the label on Bio Complete 3 does not list the CFUs of the Bacillus coagulans ProDURA and Bifidobacterium bifidum UABb-10 probiotic blend per serving, we were able to confirm with Gundry MD that the product contains 2 billion CFU per 2-capsule serving. This dosage has been shown to be effective in scientific studies regarding irritable bowel syndrome, bacterial vaginosis, and constipation.2 3 4 So, while we can’t confirm that this probiotic component is going to help you lose weight, it is likely an effective tool for assisting in healthy digestion.
We also like the inclusion of SunFiber guar fiber and acacia gum as a prebiotic blend in Bio Complete 3, although its dosage at 450mg is low when you consider published dosage recommendations for guar fiber alone are usually 5-10g daily. However, the digestive benefits of both ingredients in this prebiotic blend are well documented and include providing a sense of fullness, which can help assist with regulation of blood sugar levels.31 It’s worth noting that Core Nutritionals Core GUT, a comparable pre-, pro-, and postbiotic, uses a 1,000mg dose of SunFiber as its prebiotic.
The last major ingredient in Bio Complete 3, the postbiotic tributyrin (from CoreBiome), provides a bioavailable source of butyrate. The 300mg dosage is safe and scientifically supported.5 The benefits of butyrate are well documented, giving more evidence to confirm Gundry MD’s claims of a product that aids in digestive health.6 Its claims of increased energy and less “unhealthy cravings” are not as established.
The active ingredients chosen for Bio Complete 3 offer strong bioavailability in the colon, which is crucial for a good pre-, pro-, and postbiotic product. Overall, the ingredients’ dosages included are effective, although the prebiotic blend dosage is a little low. While we cannot confirm that Bio Complete 3 can truly provide all of the claims that Gundry MD is making about cravings and weight management, we can say the product is well-suited for helping improve overall digestive health.
Safety
Since supplements are not regulated by the FDA, we like to see that a company does the right thing and takes steps to ensure customer safety. Gundry MD manufactures its products in the United States using GMP-certified facilities. The company also utilizes third-party testing for the quality and safety of all of its products.
The ingredients in Bio Complete 3 all have GRAS (“Generally Recognized as Safe”) status from the FDA, with the exception of Bifidobacterium bifidum UABb-10 in the probiotic blend. This approval status is not a regulatory requirement in dietary supplements, however, and the lack of GRAS status should not imply that this strain of probiotic bacteria is dangerous, as it has been studied extensively in clinical trials. The dosages of all ingredients in Bio Complete 3 are within safe, studied limits. However, the list of “other ingredients” in Bio Complete 3 includes a number of fillers, which has altered slightly in a recent formulation change. Notably, competitor Peak Performance Synbiotic also has pre-, pro-, and postbiotic ingredients without the addition of fillers or additives.
Cost
The cost of Bio Complete 3 is arguably its weak spot. The $69.95 price tag for a one-month supply is steep, although there are numerous discounts offered through options like a free member program and subscribe and save deals. With just the free membership alone, you can lower the 30-day cost of Bio Complete 3 to $49.95 (and all orders over $49 ship for free). However, compared to a wide variety of other supplements with pre-, pro-, and postbiotic makeup, this is still on the pricey side. For example, you can get Peak Performance Synbiotic for $34.95 a month, not including the company’s bundling or subscribe and save discounts.
Something to consider, however, is if you are targeting a specific pre-, pro-, or postbiotic component. For example, if you know you want a supplement that contains SunFiber, a Bacillus coagulans strain, or tributyrin, you may be willing to absorb the cost for Bio Complete 3. On that same train of thought, of all the top competitors we’ve found, two (Sandhus Nutrition GUT Health and Core Nutritionals Core GUT) have very similar ingredient lists to Bio Complete 3 and are also some of the most expensive. So you may be paying the price to have branded components like SunFiber and CoreBiome in your probiotic. The higher price of Bio Complete 3 is more justifiable for some people than for others; if your primary goal is weight management or controlling cravings, you may be better off starting your journey with a more budget-friendly supplement with similar or even greater evidence of effectiveness.
Convenience
Bio Complete 3 can be purchased on either Gundry MD’s website or Amazon. In our experience, ordering Bio Complete 3 from the Gundry MD website was straightforward, and delivery was fast and easy. When we had questions about the product, we were the most successful using the chat feature directly on the website, where you can speak with a live representative. Emails tended to take a couple of days to get a response and didn’t fully answer our questions. However, Gundry MD does get an extra nod from us for its generous 90-day money-back guarantee, which was one of the best amongst Bio Complete 3’s competitors.
In order to take a full dosage of Bio Complete 3, you must swallow two capsules, once a day, before a meal. This is a change from the previous formula which required taking four capsules daily. The most comparable product we’ve found, Sandhus Nutrition GUT Health, requires a 4-capsule dose, so Bio Complete 3 may have the advantage here when it comes to convenience on a day-to-day basis.
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Bio Complete 3 is a probiotic-based dietary supplement that claims to reduce cravings, facilitate easier digestion, and boost energy. Each bottle contains a one-month supply of capsules taken once daily (each serving consists of two capsules, preferably taken with a meal).
Dr. Steven Gundry, a heart surgeon for over 30 years, founded Gundry MD with a focus on overall gut health as a proponent of healthy weight management. His “Holobiotics” approach involves administering a combination of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics to support “good” bacteria and face off against lectins, pathogens, and gut yeasts, which can harm proper cell function, cause illness and infection, and hinder healthy digestion.38 39
In addition to Bio Complete 3, Gundry MD manufactures several products aimed at gut health and weight management. They range from lectin-free, gut-friendly foods to topical skin products, nutritional supplements, and powder shake blends. The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. The majority of online customer reviews of Bio Complete are positive; most 5-star reviews report an improvement in digestion and energy, while just some mention a reduction in unhealthy cravings or weight loss. Negative customer reviews typically come from those who have experienced unpleasant side effects, such as bloating or gas; these symptoms often occur when starting a probiotic supplement.
The gastrointestinal system plays a central role in a healthy immune system, representing almost 70% of immunoregulation.7 It stands to reason, then, that addressing gut health is important not just for weight regulation but for overall health and well-being. The ingredients in Bio Complete 3 work to support the growth and colonization of the “good” bacteria we need, as well as keep the lining of our gastrointestinal tract healthy. We’ve broken down the three main components of Bio Complete 3 and how they may benefit you.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live “good” bacteria that restore and replenish your gut flora and are generally considered safe when taken as supplements. The effectiveness and health benefits of probiotics differ between strains and are still being established through clinical trials. However, these beneficial organisms have already been found to help with a number of conditions in scientific studies:
- Antibiotic-associated diarrhea8
- Bacterial vaginosis9
- Inflammatory bowel disease10
- Irritable bowel syndrome11
- Constipation12
- Periodontal disease13
Bio Complete 3 includes 22mg of a Bacillus coagulans (ProDURA) and Bifidobacterium bifidum UABb-10 blend in each daily dose. This is a change from Bio Complete 3’s previous formula, which consisted of ProDURA as its sole probiotic ingredient.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are compounds found in food that stimulate the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the gut microbiome. Unlike probiotics, they are not organisms, but rather they are the “food” for probiotics. When prebiotics are fermented by bacteria in the large intestine, they are broken down into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which play a role in multiple processes in the gut.14 in multiple processes in the gut.[14] Preliminary research has demonstrated the potential benefits of prebiotics on a number of digestive issues and the immune system, including:
- Balanced gut microbiota15
- Cardiovascular disease16
- Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation17
- Reduced colorectal cancer risk18
- Treatment for inflammatory bowel disease19
SunFiber is a soluble fiber made from hydrolyzed guar gum and constitutes the prebiotic component of Bio Complete 3, along with acacia gum (from CoreBiome). SunFiber claims to provide a healthy satiety effect and help with diarrhea and constipation, along with its prebiotic function. It’s also a low-FODMAP-certified product, unlike most high-fiber foods. (FODMAP is short for “fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols,” which are types of carbohydrates that aren’t absorbed well in the small intestine.) Numerous studies have looked at guar fiber, showing its role in maintaining proper bowel movements and treating symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome.20 Acacia gum, another soluble fiber, has recognized functionality as a prebiotic support for beneficial gut bacteria, as well.34 However, a drawback to Bio Complete 3’s prebiotic blend is in the amount: while studies suggest a daily intake of 5-10g of either guar fiber or acacia gum for digestive support, the daily dosage in Bio Complete 3 is just 450mg (0.45g).21 35
Postbiotics
Postbiotics is a relatively new term for byproducts made by the healthy bacteria in your gut.22 While they are technically “waste,” they provide benefits to our GI tract and beyond. Postbiotics can be inanimate organisms or components like amino acids. They can also include vitamins,such as B and K, or short-chain fatty acids like butyrate that play a role in intestinal immunity.23 Postbiotics are found in fermented foods like kimchi, kefir, and tempeh.
Bio Complete 3’s postbiotic component is tributyrin (from CoreBiome), with 300mg in each daily dose. The makers of this postbiotic market it to be the most clinically-proven form of tributyrin, boasting its bioavailability in the colon; however, we found that data to back this claim up is not publicly available. CoreBiome’s tributyrin consists of three butyrate molecules with a glycerol backbone; one way to look at it is as a time-released variant of butyrate.
CoreBiome supports butyrate levels in the body, thereby supporting your intestinal lining, offering immune support and relief from digestive issues like bloating, loose stools, constipation, and gas.24 Short-chain fatty acids like butyrate have also been documented to have an anti-obesity effect.25 While there is extensive research data published on the benefits of butyrate, most studies on tributyrin itself have been either conducted on animals or performed in unpublished clinical trials for the manufacturer.26 When considering dosage, the amount of tributyrin in Bio Complete 3 has been well researched as butyrate and is considered an effective, safe dose.5
Taking a look at Bio Complete 3’s claims to assist with more energy and less unhealthy cravings, there is some research that may back this up. Butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids have been found in animal studies to promote metabolic benefits through certain brain targets, some of which are involved in appetite control.27 Another 2014 animal study addressed butyrate’s ability to influence host metabolism.28 The gut-microbiota-brain axis is a fascinating network that is the focus of abundant current research. So, while we can’t confirm that CoreBiome’s butyrate will keep you from wanting to binge on junk food, we also acknowledge that there are some gut-brain processes that remain to be fully understood.
Using Bio Complete 3
Gundry MD recommends taking Bio Complete 3 every day on a consistent basis. The supplement is designed to be taken once a day (two capsules), preferably before a meal. If you forget a dose, simply resume your schedule the next day.
Bio Complete 3 has the potential to provide benefits for just about anyone looking to improve their digestive health. Fiber, probiotics, and tributyrin can work together to support your gut lining as well as your immune system. There is substantial evidence that supporting the colonization and growth of “good” bacteria with a probiotic can deliver improved digestion and reduced gastrointestinal discomfort.29 30
Sometimes our gut enters a state of dysbiosis (an imbalance of microorganisms), whether it’s from a round of antibiotics or another cause like a poor diet. Probiotics, and the ingestion of pre- and postbiotics to support them, can help to restore our gut back to its preferred, healthy balance.
While the ingredients in Bio Complete 3 are safe and probiotics have a long history of safe use, those with compromised immune systems or severe illnesses should be sure and consult with their doctor before starting a new supplement.
The dosages used of the active ingredients in Bio Complete 3 are all within safe limits and have been used in scientific research studies.
However, starting a new probiotic regimen can cause typically mild side effects. Some common side effects you may experience with Bio Complete 3 or any probiotic or fiber supplement include:
- Passing gas more often
- Bloating
- Indigestion or mildly upset stomach
- Loose stool
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Such side effects typically resolve within a couple days of starting a new probiotic supplement.
Bio Complete 3 is manufactured in the United States with domestic and imported ingredients, and an independent third-party laboratory is utilized to confirm product quality. As with all nutritional supplements, we recommend consulting your doctor before beginning a new regimen.
Also, some people — such as those with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) — can sometimes experience negative reactions to very common fillers (such as microcrystalline cellulose) found in supplements and medications. Bio Complete 3 contains cellulose as filler, so if you know or suspect you are susceptible to this kind of reaction, you should instead consider a competing product that has no fillers, such as Peak Performance Synbiotic.
You can purchase Bio Complete 3 through the Gundry MD website or Amazon. The company warns against purchasing its products through any other third-party retailers since Gundry MD cannot guarantee them to be authentic. When shopping on the company website, you can earn significant savings by signing up as a Gundry MD VIP member, which is free. As a VIP, you’ll receive special deals and discounts, and you can set up regular monthly refills automatically. Whether you make a single purchase or sign up for a VIP membership, you earn additional savings by purchasing in bulk.
Gundry MD offers free shipping in the U.S. on all orders over $49.
Compared to other products with a pre-, pro-, and postbiotic makeup, Bio Complete 3’s cost falls on the high end, even when considering the steep discounts you can get with signing up for a free account. One product with an almost identical ingredient list, Sandhus Nutrition GUT Health, is still not quite as expensive as Bio Complete 3, although taking VIP memberships and subscribe and save options into play make them more similar in cost.
In short, you can find probiotic-based nutritional supplements for less than Bio Complete 3 that also include clinically proven bacterial strains, along with pre- and postbiotic ingredients. However, it really boils down to whether or not you are targeting specific ingredients. All of the products on our list are third-party tested for quality and safety, and most offer subscribe and save deals, making Bio Complete 3’s expense seem a little less justified.
Sandhus Nutrition GUT Health
Sandhus Nutrition GUT Health has the closest formulation to Bio Complete 3 that we’ve found. This product contains 1,000mg CoreBiome (300mg tributyrin), 500mg L-glutamine (KQ), 200mg SunFiber, and.2 billion CFU Lactospore (Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856). In addition to the pre-, pro-, and postbiotic components similar to Bio Complete 3, GUT Health includes L-glutamine to support a healthy gut lining.36 Other ingredients include a delayed-release vegetable capsule, silicon dioxide, and MCT powder.
A 30-day supply of GUT Health costs $59.95 for a one-time purchase, compared to Bio Complete 3 at $69.95 (although Gundry’s price can be reduced to $49.95 with a free account sign-up). Sandhus Nutrition offers a subscribe and save option that will save you 15% as well as bulk purchasing options to help reduce the cost, similar to Gundry MD. A daily serving consists of four capsules, which lined up with Bio Complete 3 until its recent formulation change, which lowered the daily serving to just two capsules. Sandhus Nutrition matches Gundry MD with its safety and convenience considerations; both companies are 3rd-party tested, use GMP-certified facilities for manufacturing, and offer a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Core Nutritionals Core GUT
Core Nutritionals offers a comprehensive gut support product called Core GUT. Similar to Bio Complete 3, the company utilizes SunFiber as a prebiotic and CoreBiome (300mg tributyrin) as a postbiotic. Notably, Core Nutritionals includes 1,000mg SunFiber, which is more in line with beneficial and researched dosages than what Bio Complete 3 offers. The probiotic component of Core GUT is a blend of 17 different strains of bacteria, including species from Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Saccharomyces, which are all thoroughly researched genera. We like that the company specifies very clearly how many CFUs of each organism are in each serving. Core GUT also sets itself apart from Bio Complete 3 with the inclusion of digestive enzymes (a blend of protease, lactase, amylase, and lipase) in its formula.
One downside to Core GUT is the serving size. While you get a large number of CFUs per capsule, you have to take five capsules daily to reach a whole serving. A 30-day supply of Core Nutritionals Core GUT will cost you $54.99, and there are no bulk-purchasing or subscription options currently available. The company has a short 30-day return window and only offers free shipping for orders over $125.
Peak Performance Synbiotic
Peak Performance Synbiotic has pre-, pro-, and postbiotic ingredients for a 3-in-1 digestive health support supplement. Peak Performance uses scientifically backed xylooligosaccharides (XOS) as its prebiotic, which is different from Bio Complete 3.37 The company’s probiotic blend also contains Bacillus species like Bio Complete 3, although the product label does not specify down to the strain level and does not give the quantity in CFU per serving. For the postbiotic component, Peak Performance Synbiotic incorporates CoreBiome tributyrin. One perk of this product is its lack of fillers; the only “other ingredient” on the label is the vegan capsule.
Peak Performance Synbiotic is not as expensive as products like Bio Complete 3 or Sandhus Nutrition GUT Health. One bottle of 30 servings costs only $33.95, with opportunities for savings through bulk-purchasing and subscribe and save programs. However, it’s worth noting that the CFU per serving of probiotics is unknown, so you really don’t know exactly how much you are getting in every capsule. Peak Performance also has a tight return window; you only have 30 days to take advantage of the money-back guarantee if the product does not work for you.
We ordered Bio Complete 3 directly from the Gundry MD website. While ordering the product was fairly smooth, there were several upselling bargain opportunities presented (like bundling products to save) before our order was confirmed. As far as we could tell, there was no way to circumvent this series of offers before completing the checkout process.
The company makes it easy to track your order from within your account interface and gives a link to your tracking information in an email confirmation. We received frequent order status emails. If you are ordering from Gundry MD’s website, the product is shipped from southern California, and orders are processed within 12-24 hours. We were told we would receive our package within 2-7 business days, depending on geographic location, and it arrived across the country in three days. The product arrived in a plain brown box sealed with tape that read Gundry MD on it.
In addition, we mostly had positive experiences interacting with customer service during our testing. The most effective method used was the live chat option directly on the company website. We were able to talk to a real person and get answers to our questions in a timely manner. When we utilized the option to email customer service, it took a couple of days to get a response, and our question was not fully answered. After reiterating the question, we finally did get the response we needed.
Privacy considerations
Like most online retailers, Gundry MD collects personal and non-personal information about users on its website through cookies and other technologies. Enrolling in the VIP membership program will increase the number of related ads, emails, and text promotions you’ll receive, but opting out is uncomplicated.
HSA, FSA, and health insurance
Bio Complete 3 is not eligible for payment with HSA, FSA, or insurance.
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