Frequently Asked Questions

Neuralli® MP

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General questions

Is Bened Life® the only source of PS128TM?

Yes. PS128TM is a proprietary strain only sold by Bened Life® in the US, and by Bened Life authorized health care providers. Any other brand advertising these strains for sale in the US is selling counterfeit products. Make sure to look for the Neuralli® brand and Bened Life® to ensure you are purchasing real PS128TM.

What form does Neuralli® MP come in?

Neuralli® MP comes in capsules packaged in a twist-off bottle. These state-of-the-art CSP vials keep the inside of the bottle very dry and help maintain maximum probiotic potency.

I can't take pills - how can I take Neuralli® MP?

If swallowing the capsule is uncomfortable, you can open the shell and take the powder. (Take it all at once to guarantee its potency.) If you’d like, you can mix Neuralli® MP powder into a cool drink or food of your choice. It should not be added to warm/hot foods or liquids. Read more here

Is Neuralli® MP FDA approved?

The FDA approves drugs (or medicines). Neuralli® MP is not a drug or medicine. It is a probiotic medical food.

A medical food is defined by 21 U.S. Code 360ee, (b), (3) as a food formulated for consumption or enteral administration under the supervision of a physician for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinctive nutritional requirements, based on recognized scientific principles, are established by medical evaluation.

Neuralli® MP is a medical food intended for the dietary management of autism and Parkinson’s disease. Lactiplantibacillus (formerly Lactobacillus) plantarum PS128TM is the probiotic strain that, at sufficiently high quantities, when administered to people with the specified neurological conditions, has demonstrated some benefits that are clinically meaningful.

L. plantarum PS128TM is self-affirmed as generally recognized as safe (GRAS). The strain L. plantarum PS128TM is derived from a fermented food. The fermented food itself is not in a typical diet and does not have the standardized quantities of the specific strain, PS128TM. To maintain the strain's genetic integrity, it must be cultivated in controlled manufacturing conditions. To deliver a sufficient quantity to have a clinically meaningful effect, Neuralli® MP delivers PS128TM in a high-potency form.

What are the common side effects?

When taking Neuralli® MP as directed (2 capsules containing 60 billion CFU of L. plantarum PS128TM), some people may experience mild gastrointestinal upset such as gas, bloating or stool changes for up to a week, just as when starting any new probiotic. In clinical studies of the PS128TM probiotic with Autistic participants or patients with Parkinson’s disease, reports of adverse effects were very low. If side effects persist, we recommend consulting your health care provider.

Can my child take Neuralli® MP?

Children as young as 3 years of age have used 60 billion CFUs of PS128TM per day in clinical studies. These children were under the supervision of physicians for their diagnosis of autism. Two capsules of Neuralli® MP contain 60 billion CFUs of PS128TM.

Neuralli® MP is a medical food for the dietary management of autism, and is intended to be used under the supervision of a health care professional.

Does Neuralli® MP help with constipation?

Neuralli® MP delivers 60 billion CFUs of L. plantarum PS128TM to contribute to healthy gut microbiota. As a medical food for autism or PD, Neuralli® MP targets gut microbiome-to-brain signaling.

More research is needed to explore the impact of PS128TM on bowel function such as constipation. However, in a recent customer survey of 132 respondents taking Neuralli® MP, about half experienced some improvements or significant improvements in their gut health. Less than half experienced no change to gut health.

No probiotic can replace the need for adequate intake of fiber (about 25-35 grams per day) or other healthy lifestyle habits that impact gut health. Consult your health care practitioner for concerns about your digestive health.

What happens if I stop taking Neuralli® MP for a few days?

Neuralli® MP is most effective when taken daily. The benefits of Neuralli® MP come from its probiotic strain, and the strain itself doesn’t colonize in your gut. Therefore, if you don’t take it, you will not be getting the good bacteria. That said, if you miss a day, there’s no need to take a double dose to make up for it. Simply start again the next day.

Does PS128 colonize the gut?

It is unknown if PS128TM can reproduce within the human intestine. Unpublished research shows that PS128TM DNA could be detected in the stool of some volunteers for 1-2 weeks after taking the strain. However, it is not known if PS128TM was alive and reproducing within the intestine over that period.

Probiotics typically provide benefits as they are taken and pass through the intestine. It is not necessary for them to “colonize” the gut in order to be effective. It is rare for any probiotic strain to be retained in the gut once a person stops taking it.

You can read more about probiotic colonization in this article from the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP):
https://isappscience.org/is-probiotic-colonization-essential/

What goes into the cost of Neuralli® MP?

Because Neuralli® MP is not shelf stable, we formulate, package, and ship it carefully. We don’t compromise in our pursuit of providing maximum potency for maximum benefit. We add in more than 30 billion CFUs of PS128TM at the time of manufacturing to ensure you get at least 30 billion CFUs per capsule through the best by date. We use special CSP vials to keep the capsules dry. We ship fast and cold when it's very hot outside to prevent CFU loss, and use robust curbside recyclable insulated packaging to minimize our impact on the environment.

At Bened Life, we believe that safe and effective microbiome solutions are part of the answer. Your investment in Neuralli® MP supports our mission to unlock the gut-brain axis and make an impact on the communities we serve.

What are the ingredients in Neuralli® MP?

Each serving (2 capsules) of Neuralli® MP contains at least 60 billion CFU L. plantarum PS128TM. Other ingredients include microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, and silica. The vegetarian capsule is made of hypromellose.

Why was inulin removed from Neuralli® MP?

Prior to April 2024, Neuralli® MP was marketed as Neuralli®, and was formulated with <200 mg of inulin in addition to 60B CFU of PS128TM per 2-capsule serving.

Inulin was removed for two reasons: To make the product accessible to people who are sensitive to inulin, and to make the formulation more similar to the one that was used in all clinical studies.

PS128TM alone (without inulin) has been shown to provide benefits for Autistic people, as well as people with Parkinson’s disease. The lowest quantity of inulin that has been clinically shown to provide a benefit for increases in beneficial gut microbes is 2.5 g, which does not fit into a small capsule.

Getting started with Neuralli MP

How should I store Neuralli® MP? Does it need to be refrigerated?

To keep your products maximally effective, store them in their original CSP bottles in the refrigerator. Be sure to keep Neuralli® MP in its original bottle to limit the exposure of the capsules to humidity; do not store the capsules in a different container. Do not expose Neuralli® MP to high heat or direct sunlight.

If you travel with Neuralli® MP, always keep it in a cool, dry place. Storing a bottle at a consistent room temperature for up to one month will not impact the efficacy of the product.

When should I take Neuralli® MP?

Take two capsules every day. Many customers take both at the same time; however, you can also split them up if you prefer. Find the time of day that works best for you.

In a clinical study with people with Parkinson’s disease, participants took two capsules in the evening. In other clinical studies the timing was left up to the participants.

How many Neuralli® MP capsules should I or my child take per day?

The serving size of Neuralli® MP is 2 capsules per day, providing 60 billion CFU of PS128TM. Children as young as 3 years of age have used 60 billion CFUs per day of PS128TM in clinical studies.

Since each person is different, your tolerance may vary. Please take Neuralli® MP under the supervision of your health care provider.

Can I take more than two Neuralli® MP capsules daily?

Most people take 1-2 capsules per day. Clinical studies have tested up to 60 billion CFU of PS128TM, which is the quantity in 2 capsules. Consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions.

My box didn’t contain ice packs, or the ice packs were melted. Should I be concerned?

You may receive your product in a box with or without cold packs, depending on the time of year and your geographic location. If your package contains cold packs that are no longer cold, or perhaps even warm, when the box arrives at your door, don’t worry - your product is safe. Simply refrigerate all bottles right away.

Bened Life® products are stable under most shipping conditions, but should be refrigerated upon receipt. PS128TM requires refrigeration to retain efficacy through its best-by date.

If you happen to experience an unexpected heat wave or unusual circumstances such as product sitting at your door in excessive heat for an extended period of time, please contact our customer happiness team through our contact form.

Medical conditions and medications

I have a medical condition. Can I take Neuralli® MP ?

As a medical food, Neuralli® MP should be used under the supervision of your health care provider. Its active ingredient, PS128TM, has been studied in Autistic people and people with Parkinson’s (see references here).

PS128TM may play a role in modulating neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin in some individuals. If you have concerns about this, please speak with your health care provider before starting or stopping Neuralli® MP.

While each ingredient in Neuralli® MP has been self-affirmed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), Neuralli® MP has not been tested for safety and effectiveness in populations with other medical conditions. We recommend that you consult with your health care provider to decide if Neuralli® MP is right for you.

Can I take Neuralli® MP if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?

If you are breastfeeding or pregnant, we recommend speaking to your health care provider for guidance. They will have the best recommendations for you with your health history in mind.

Does Neuralli® MP interfere medications such as SSRI's?

We always recommend consulting with your health care provider before starting any new medical food, supplement, or medication. Autistic participants, and those with PD, or Rett’s or Tourette’s syndrome continued their medications and therapies while taking PS128TM in clinical trials. We do not have detailed information about which medications they took except for the levodopa in the PD trial. Please take Neuralli® MP under the supervision of your health care provider.

Can I take Neuralli® MP with antibiotics?

Some antibiotics may make Neuralli® MP less effective. If you are taking an antibiotic, please consult your health care professional for advice.

I’m sensitive to histamine. Is PS128TM a histamine-producing probiotic?

L. plantarum PS128TM does not produce histamine. It does not have the histidine decarboxylase (hdc) gene in its genome.

PS128 science

Is PS128TM backed by published, peer-reviewed science?

Yes, the 60 billion CFU quantity of PS128TM in Neuralli® MP has been the focus of multiple research and clinical studies.

Preclinical studies suggest that the strain Lactiplantibacillus (formerly Lactobacillus) plantarum PS128TM benefits the immune and digestive systems, as well as impacts mental health by reducing stress, reducing anxiety, and balancing dopamine and serotonin in the brain.

Clinical studies of PS128TM in three randomized, placebo-controlled trials and one real-world study in autism demonstrate clinically meaningful outcomes suggesting a reduction in anxiety. A single arm study in Parkinson's suggested positive benefits of using L. plantarum PS128TM as dietary management. Click here for more information about the science of PS128TM. You can view the clinical studies about PS128TM here.

How is PS128TM different from any other strain of L. plantarum? Will other L. plantarum strains have the same effect?

While many strains of L. plantarum are commercially available as probiotics, the L. plantarum PS128TM strain affected dopamine and serotonin in some parts of the brain in preclinical studies. PS128TM also demonstrated benefits in clinical trials of people with neurological conditions.

In general, different strains of a single bacterial species can have very different beneficial effects. For example, L. plantarum Lpla33 demonstrated benefit in IBS-D. On the other hand, Lactobacillus plantarum LPLDL can help with cholesterol levels. (PS128TM has not been studied for those effects, and neither of those strains have been studied in the way that PS128TM has.)

What’s the difference between taking PS128TM and eating lacto-fermented vegetables?

PS128TM is a specific strain of lactic acid bacteria that has been clinically shown to provide benefits, whereas lacto-fermented vegetables (vegetables that undergo fermentation by lactic acid bacteria) may contain any number of types of bacteria with unknown properties.

PS128TM was discovered in spontaneously fermented mustard greens. “Spontaneous” fermentation occurs when bacteria in the environment (air, nearby surfaces) do the fermentation. To identify what type of bacteria is in a fermented product, isolation and genetic sequencing is needed. After screening hundreds of lactic acid bacteria, PS128TM was selected from one spontaneous fermentation of mustard greens. Other fermented products would not be expected to have PS128TM unless PS128TM had been added into it.

In order to be called a fermented food on a commercial product, the food should contain at least 1 million CFU of live microbes per gram of food per US FDA requirements (see 21 CFR131.200). The live microbes may or may not be specified by species (plantarum or acidophilus for example) or strain (using letters and numbers). Thus, the fermented food may be a food with live cultures, not probiotics (see information from ISAPP).

On the other hand, a probiotic delivers a specific quantity of a specific bacterium that has a demonstrated health benefit. 60 billion CFU of PS128TM per serving is the quantity that was used in clinical studies as dietary management of specific neurological conditions such as ASD and PD.

What are psychobiotics?

A specific type of probiotics, psychobiotics are defined as live microorganisms that when administered at adequate amounts, provide a mental health benefit. Neuralli® MP contains the novel psychobiotic L. plantarum PS128TM, clinically shown to provide both neurological and mental health benefits, likely due to its influence on the production and/or metabolism of serotonin and dopamine.

What is a probiotic medical food?

A probiotic medical food is a type of medical food. The term medical food, as defined in the Orphan Drug Act, is "a food which is formulated to be consumed or administered enterally under the supervision of a physician and which is intended for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinctive nutritional requirements, based on recognized scientific principles, are established by medical evaluation."

Neuralli® MP is a medical food intended to support the dietary management of autism and Parkinson's disease. It delivers 60B CFUs of Lactiplantibacillus (formerly Lactobacillus) plantarum PS128TM, a probiotic strain that, at sufficiently high quantities, when administered to people with the specified neurological conditions, has demonstrated some benefits that are clinically meaningful.

Autistic people and those with Parkinson's disease have distinct nutritional requirements that differ from the general population. For these patients, diet alone is not sufficient to support gut microbiome to brain signaling. Gut microbial differences (or gut dysbiosis), as well as genetic and blood biomarkers, suggest that gut microbiome modulation of neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter metabolism may be dysregulated in these conditions.

Additionally, amino acid metabolism and serotonin and dopamine levels and/or metabolism are altered in the brain in both ASD and PD. Amino acids such as tryptophan and tyrosine are the respective precursors to serotonin and dopamine. Thus, gut dysbiosis, metabolic dysregulation and neurotransmitter differences in neurological conditions such as ASD and PD allow for the possibility to help regulation of all three via dietary management through nutrients including the microbe PS128TM.

Neuralli® MP’s formula contains PS128TM for the dietary management of these conditions via its effects on gut microbiome-to-brain signaling. The specific strain L. plantarum PS128TM is derived from a fermented food. The fermented food itself is not in a typical diet and does not have the standardized quantities of the specific strain. To maintain genetic integrity of the strain, it needs to be cultivated in controlled manufacturing conditions. Neuralli® MP is formulated to deliver a sufficient quantity of PS128TM to have a clinically meaningful effect.

Clinical studies of PS128TM in autism and Parkinson's disease suggest that this specific strain supports the gut microbiome to brain signaling that influences brain and behavior. The evidence for autism includes three randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. For further information, please see the list of clinical trials here.

Canceling and modifying subscriptions

How do I cancel or modify my subscription?

You can access your subscription dashboard here to reschedule your next delivery, or to cancel, skip, or pause your subscription at any time.

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