Best Probiotics for Men: What to Look For

Benefits of probiotics for men's health

The advantages of probiotics for men reach far beyond gut health. Research has shown that higher microbiome diversity is associated with healthy metabolic processes and immune system function.¹ For digestive health specifically, many different probiotic strains, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium, support digestive comfort, bowel regularity, and microbial balance.¹

Modern diets tend to be low in fiber and fermented foods, which can leave gaps in microbial diversity over time. Regular probiotics help to reinforce the beneficial bacteria in your microbiome, especially when taken with a fiber-rich diet.

There's also an important connection to nutrient status. A well-supported microbiome helps your body absorb key nutrients such as B vitamins, which play a central role in how your body produces and sustains cellular energy.* In fact, certain species of gut bacteria support B vitamin production and absorption.²

How probiotics impact gut health in men

Probiotics can help your gut microbiome thrive, but how? To better understand the importance of probiotics for men's gut health, let's look at what probiotics actually do when they arrive in the gut.³

Probiotics aren’t just pouring new bacteria into your gut. High-quality probiotics work to help maintain your microbiome by outcompeting less beneficial bacteria for territory and nutrition, binding to cells in the gut lining, and encouraging an environment where those microbes can flourish.

Not all bacterial types provide the same benefits. Some strains help support a healthy gut lining, while others support digestive ease and regular bowel movements. That’s why it’s important to look at specific strains when you’re taking a probiotic. The strains you choose need to survive the stomach and reach your intestines, where they work with your gut flora.

Prebiotics are just as important. Prebiotics are fermentable fibers that serve as ‘food’ for good bacteria and can help your body increase their presence. Some common gut-loving ingredients in prebiotics include inulin and beta-glucans. Studies show that they help promote beneficial bacteria and support short-chain fatty acid production, which helps maintain the intestinal lining.⁴

Taking a probiotic alone is like trying to grow your garden with limited nutrients. Adding a prebiotic helps give your gut bacteria what it needs to help your good bacteria stay plentiful.

Choosing the right probiotic for men

There are many options on the market, so knowing what to look for in a probiotic and what to look past will help find the one that supports your gut health.

What’s the best probiotic for men?

The ideal probiotic for men is built around clinically studied strains delivered with the prebiotics and micronutrients that those strains require to survive and flourish. AG1 Next Gen includes five clinically studied strains: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Bifidobacterium lactis HN019, Lactobacillus casei LC-11, and Lactobacillus plantarum LP-115, each selected to support digestive health and comfort.*

In three clinical trials, AG1 Next Gen was shown to enrich key probiotic species in the gut.^5,6,7

AG1 Next Gen is also clinically shown to fill common nutrient gaps even in healthy eaters.*⁵⁶⁷ Beyond the probiotic blend, AG1 Next Gen includes B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12)—cofactors that help your body unlock energy from the food you eat—alongside 75+ vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced ingredients, including beetroot, acerola cherry, papaya, pineapple, and matcha.* It’s also NSF Certified for Sport®, meaning it has been independently tested for quality and purity.

What are the signs you could benefit from a probiotic?

There isn’t one specific indicator that tells you you absolutely need to support your microbiome with probiotics. But if you find yourself often bloated, experiencing irregular bowel movements, or having occasional digestive discomfort after eating, and your diet may be low in fiber and fermented foods, those may be reasons to proactively support your microbiome.

Beyond these signs, take an honest look at your diet. Do you struggle to eat enough veggies, fruits, and fiber daily? If so, you’re not alone—only about 10–12% of US adults are getting the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables.⁸ Your microbiome may be going without the daily support it needs from diet. A probiotic supplement works best alongside what you eat, not in place of it.

Incorporating probiotics into your daily routine

The key to probiotic support is consistency. Dramatic changes to the microbiome rarely happen overnight. Instead, diet, lifestyle, and baseline gut health all shape them. Occasional or infrequent use won’t build the kind of consistent, long-term support your gut microbes need to flourish.

AG1 Next Gen was designed with that in mind. By consuming AG1 on an empty stomach each morning, you get probiotics, prebiotics, plant-derived digestive enzymes, and a full suite of micronutrients all delivered through one simple daily routine without the need to juggle several different products.

Supporting habits still matter

Your probiotic supplement is part of the larger gut ecosystem that’s impacted by everything you eat and drink, how you sleep (or don’t), how you handle stress, and how you live day-to-day. A high fiber, whole-foods plant-centric diet promotes good bacteria, while one heavy in refined and ultra-processed foods works against microbial balance. Movement promotes healthy circulation and gut motility, while stress can have a negative impact on your body’s systems, affecting gut health in the long-term.

That doesn’t mean everything has to be perfect, but it does mean that getting the most from your probiotics means maintaining a healthy, complementary lifestyle.

Supporting your gut starts with one consistent daily habit, and AG1 Next Gen makes that habit simple.*

References:

1. Hungin APS, Mitchell CR, Whorwell P, et al. Systematic review: probiotics in the management of lower gastrointestinal symptoms - an updated evidence-based international consensus. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2018;47(8):1054-1070. doi:10.1111/apt.14539
2. Magnúsdóttir S, Ravcheev D, de Crécy-Lagard V, Thiele I. Systematic genome assessment of B-vitamin biosynthesis suggests co-operation among gut microbes. Front Genet. 2015;6:148. doi:10.3389/fgene.2015.00148
3. Hill C, Guarner F, Reid G, et al. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;11(8):506-514. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2014.66
4. Edo GI, Mafe AN, Ali ABM, et al. Mechanistic insights into β-glucans and gut microbiota interactions for enhancing human health. Discov Food. 2025;5:282. doi:10.1007/s44187-025-00503-6
5. In a triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel-designed clinical trial evaluating nutrient biomarkers and microbiome shifts in 105 healthy adults ages 20-59 over the course of 12 weeks.
6. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled 2-week crossover clinical trial assessing nutrient gaps and microbiome shifts in 20 active adults ages 19-37.
7. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled 2-week crossover clinical trial assessing nutrient gaps and microbiome assessments of 24 healthy adults with occasional GI distress, ages 26-59, over the course of 4 weeks.
8. Lee SH, Moore LV, Park S, Harris DM, Blanck HM. Adults meeting fruit and vegetable intake recommendations—United States, 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71(1):1-9. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7101a1