Align is the #1 Gastroenterologist-Recommended Probiotic Supplement(1)

CINCINNATI, Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Even during a time when consumers are cutting back on healthcare expenditures, the probiotics category has continued to grow.  Most widely recognized for digestive health benefits, probiotics are still a source of confusion for consumers who are faced with literally hundreds of choices on the shelf.  For consumers with occasional digestive upsets, the choice may have just gotten simpler with today's announcement that Align is the nation's #1 gastroenterologist-recommended probiotic supplement(1).

"My patients come in asking about probiotics, and they want to make sure to spend money on something that will work," said Dr. Anish Sheth, gastroenterologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine.

Dr. Sheth often suggests patients look at The International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consumer guidelines for choosing a quality probiotic supplement. The guidelines recommend consumers look for probiotics that are well researched, come from reliable manufacturers, have a clearly stated shelf life, and are labeled with the exact bacterial strain(s) contained in the product(2).

"I feel good about recommending Align because it is manufactured with high quality techniques, has published data, and most importantly, I've seen it really help my patients protect against occasional digestive upsets," says Dr. Sheth.

Align helps to build and maintain a healthy digestive system and protects against occasional digestive upsets,* and is the only probiotic supplement that contains Bifantis® (Bifidobacterium infantis 35624), a natural, patented probiotic strain developed by gastroenterologists. Since its launch last year, Align has become a top-selling probiotic, with almost 90% of those who have tried Align saying they would recommend it to a friend, as noted on www.AlignGI.com. In a survey of over 600 gastroenterologists, Align was the number one recommended brand of probiotic(1).

About Align®

Align is a single strain probiotic supplement that exclusively contains Bifantis (Bifidobacterium infantis 35624).  With just one pill a day, every day, Align can help bring peace to your digestive system so you can enjoy life with protection against occasional digestive upsets.*

Align capsules are stored in specially designed blister packs that ensure bacteria remain live and effective until consumption or the expiration date printed on the box.  In addition, Align meets the recommendations set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO) for packaging and labeling.

P&G is offering a money-back guarantee to consumers within 60 days of original purchase date.  Full offer details and terms are available at www.AlignGI.com/refund or by calling (800) 337-5036**. For more information on Align and Bifantis, visit www.AlignGI.com.

About Bifantis®

Bifantis is the trademarked name for a special, patented strain of beneficial bacteria, Bifidobacterium infantis 35624. Bifantis is the natural probiotic ingredient found only in Align.

The specific and pure strain of Bifantis found in Align helps build and maintain a strong, healthy digestive system.* Align is the only probiotic supplement that contains Bifantis.

About P&G

Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®.

The P&G community includes approximately 127,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

* 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.  

**See package or visit AlignGI.com/Refund for full details and additional terms.

(1) Among gastroenterologists who recommended a brand of probiotic in a Wolters Kluwer 2010 survey.

(2) "Probiotics: A Consumer Guide for Making Smart Choices," http://www.isapp.net/docs/Consumer_Guidelines-probiotic.pdf, last accessed: September 28, 2010.

SOURCE P&G