Ingredient guide
Finessa Probiotics: What the 52.5 mg Blend and 2 mg of Akkermansia Really Tell You
Finessa probiotics are a 52.5 mg blend of ten strain lines plus 2 mg of Akkermansia muciniphila AH39, in a powder. The panel says 5 billion CFU at the time of manufacture, but the tub front says 3 billion. No trial has tested this blend, and probiotic effects depend on the strain.
Written by the Finessa label deskUpdated
The blend01
What are the probiotics in Finessa?
The Finessa probiotics are a 52.5 mg Probiotic Blend of ten lines, plus a separate 2 mg line for Akkermansia muciniphila AH39. Both sit in a powder you mix into a drink.
Probiotics are live microbes meant to give a health benefit. Different strains act differently, so one result cannot be carried over to another (NCCIH, Probiotics: usefulness and safety).
The panel prints the blend total, 5 billion CFU "at the time of manufacture", and the strain names. It prints no amount for any single strain.
| Name on the label | Probiotic Blend (ten lines, 52.5 mg) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus coagulans, Streptococcus and Clostridium butyricum strains |
| Where it appears | Probiotic Blend (52.5 mg) and the 2 mg Akkermansia line |
| Amount per scoop | 52.5 mg; 5 Billion CFU at manufacture (panel) or 3 Billion CFU (tub front) |
| Amount used in research | One strain trial used 1 and 10 billion CFU a day; the panel says 5 billion, the tub front 3 billion |
| Strength of evidence | Strain-specific; a review found a small rise of 1.3 bowel movements a week |
| Marketed or traditional use | A mix of live bacteria strains. |
| Main caution | People with weak immune systems, central lines or serious illness should ask a doctor first; gas can occur at the start. |
| Name on the label | Probiotic Powder (Akkermansia muciniphila AH39) |
|---|---|
| What it is | A gut bacterium that lives on the mucus layer |
| Where it appears | Its own line under the Probiotic Blend: 2 mg |
| Amount per scoop | 2 mg, printed on its own line |
| Amount used in research | A 3-month pilot trial used 10 billion cells a day |
| Strength of evidence | Early: one small pilot, on metabolic markers, not bowel habit |
| Marketed or traditional use | A newer probiotic strain. |
| Main caution | Little long-term safety data; ask a doctor if immune-compromised. |
Read the other lines on the supplement facts page. For the basics, see probiotics explained.
The ten lines02
Why does the Finessa probiotic blend list L. casei twice?
We cannot say. The panel prints L. casei in line 1 and again in line 4. It may be a copy error or two sources of the same species, and the panel does not tell us.
The four last lines carry percentages: 20%, 30%, 30% and 20%. The panel does not say what they are percentages of. If they were shares of the whole 52.5 mg, they would add up to 100% and leave nothing for the six lines above them.
A blend must list its parts from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36 (proprietary blends)). A 20% line placed before a 30% line breaks that order, so those numbers are probably shares of something else. We do not know what.
| Line | Name on the panel | Printed share | At most (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L. casei | Not printed | 52.5 |
| 2 | L. acidophilus | Not printed | 26.3 |
| 3 | L. rhamnosus | Not printed | 17.5 |
| 4 | L. casei (second time) | Not printed | 13.1 |
| 5 | Clostridium butyricum | Not printed | 10.5 |
| 6 | Streptococcus thermophilus | Not printed | 8.8 |
| 7 | Bacillus coagulans BC99 | 20% | 7.5 |
| 8 | L. acidophilus LA85 | 30% | 6.6 |
| 9 | Bifidobacterium lactis BLa80 | 30% | 5.8 |
| 10 | L. reuteri LR08 | 20% | 5.3 |
Line k weighs at most 52.5 divided by k. Real weights are lower for most lines, and the ceilings do not add up to 52.5.
CFU03
Does Finessa have 5 billion or 3 billion CFU?
Both numbers are printed. The Supplement Facts panel says 5 billion CFU at the time of manufacture, and the tub front says "3 Billion CFU". We cannot tell which one you will get.
CFU means colony-forming units, a count of live cells. A weight in milligrams says nothing about live cells, because the label rule only asks for the weight of the microbes (NIH ODS, Probiotics fact sheet (CFU, label)).
The phrase "at the time of manufacture" matters. Probiotic cells can die on the shelf, so experts advise looking for a count at the end of shelf life (NIH ODS, Probiotics fact sheet (CFU, label)). The panel gives no such count.
Between 3 and 5 billion CFU a scoop at the start, and an unknown number by the time you open the tub. That is our reading, not a measured value. Ask the order desk at +1 (302) 200-3480 for the lot's certificate of analysis.
One trial of a single strain used 1 billion and 10 billion CFU a day, and both doses worked about the same (Eskesen 2015, BB-12 doses and defecation frequency). Both of Finessa's numbers sit in that span. That says little, because the strain in that trial, BB-12, is not on the Finessa panel.
Akkermansia04
What is Akkermansia muciniphila, and what does 2 mg do?
Akkermansia muciniphila is a gut bacterium that lives on the mucus layer of the intestine. Finessa lists it as "Probiotic Powder (Akkermansia muciniphila AH39)", 2 mg a scoop, with no cell count.
The best human data is one pilot trial. It enrolled 40 overweight, insulin-resistant adults, and 32 finished. They took 10 billion bacteria a day for three months (Depommier 2019, Akkermansia pilot trial (Nature Medicine)).
The results were about blood sugar markers and cholesterol, not bowel habit or digestion. The strain was not AH39, and the trial used no powder of 2 mg.
So a supplement with Akkermansia is an early idea, not an established one. Finessa gives no cell count, which makes any comparison impossible. For the wider "gut microbiome" talk, see the gut-liver axis guide.
Finessa: from $39 a bottle50 scoops a tub · 1, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 6 · 180-day guarantee
See packsEvidence05
What do studies say about these probiotic strains?
They say a little about single strains and nothing about Finessa. The strongest result is a small rise in bowel movements, and it depends on the strain.
A 2014 review pooled 14 trials and 1,182 people with constipation. Probiotics raised stool frequency by 1.3 movements a week. The rise was clear for Bifidobacterium lactis, and absent for L. casei Shirota (Dimidi 2014, probiotics and functional constipation meta-analysis).
The label has a Bifidobacterium lactis line (BLa80) and L. casei lines. We cannot say whether BLa80 matches the strain in that review, and the sales page does not either.
No trial covers the ten-line blend, the powder or the 2 mg Akkermansia line. We make no claim that Finessa changes your microbiome.
Safety06
Who should avoid the probiotics in Finessa?
People with a weak immune system or a serious illness should ask a doctor before taking any live probiotic. They carry more risk of infection from live microbes (NCCIH, Probiotics: usefulness and safety).
- Ask first if you have a central line, a transplant, or take medicine that lowers immunity.
- Ask first if you are pregnant, nursing, or giving the powder to a child.
- Stop and call a doctor for fever, severe belly pain or blood in the stool.
Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine because you started a supplement. Tell your care team what you take (FDA, Mixing medications and supplements).
Report a serious reaction through the FDA's Safety Reporting Portal (FDA, How to Report a Problem with Dietary Supplements). More on Finessa side effects.
Verdict07
Is the Finessa probiotic blend worth it?
It is a modest part of the formula, with two CFU numbers and no strain amounts. Treat the probiotics as a possible extra, not a reason to buy.
- Check the CFU on the tub you receive, and ask for the certificate of analysis.
- Do not expect results from one strain to carry over to the rest.
- Use the 180-day guarantee if the powder does not suit you.
FAQ08
Finessa probiotics questions
How many probiotic strains are in Finessa?
The Probiotic Blend lists ten lines, but L. casei is printed twice, so nine different names appear. A separate line adds Akkermansia muciniphila AH39. The panel gives no amount for any one strain.
Is Finessa 5 billion or 3 billion CFU?
Both are printed. The panel says 5 billion CFU at the time of manufacture, and the tub front says 3 billion. We do not know which is right, so ask the order desk for the lot's certificate of analysis.
What does CFU at the time of manufacture mean?
It means the count was taken when the powder was made, not when you open the tub. Live cells can die over time, so experts advise a count at the end of shelf life (NIH ODS, Probiotics fact sheet (CFU, label)).
Does Finessa contain Bifidobacterium lactis?
Yes. The panel lists Bifidobacterium lactis BLa80 at 30%. A review found B. lactis raised bowel movements, but we cannot confirm that BLa80 matches the studied strains (Dimidi 2014, probiotics and functional constipation meta-analysis).
What is the Akkermansia in Finessa for?
The label does not say. The only human trial we found used 10 billion bacteria a day and measured blood sugar markers, not digestion (Depommier 2019, Akkermansia pilot trial (Nature Medicine)). Finessa lists 2 mg with no cell count.
Are the probiotics in Finessa safe for a weak immune system?
Ask a doctor first. People with weak immune systems or serious illness face more risk from live microbes (NCCIH, Probiotics: usefulness and safety). The same goes for a central line or a recent transplant.
Do I need to keep Finessa in the fridge?
The label images we were given show no storage directions, so we cannot say. Check your tub, and ask the order desk at +1 (302) 200-3480 if it prints nothing.
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Gofinessa, a U.S. stocking partner for Finessa, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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