Frequently Asked Questions

Qiara Probiotics are made in Australia by the proudly female owned and led, small business Puremedic Health. A small business supporting mums and their families.

Qiara Probiotics contain a patented, single strain of beneficial bacteria, Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716, which has been isolated from breastmilk and is supported by clinical research. Breastmilk is our first food as humans and is the major factor in colonising the infant gut and building the immune system. Many other probiotics available contain beneficial bacteria isolated from the bowel or food.

Qiara can be purchased here from our website or from selected Pharmacies and Health Professionals. See our Stockists List

Reflux and Colic are thought to be common in young babies due to an immature gut and digestive system.

Disruptions to the microbiome in the stomach and intestines can increase the incidence of reflux and colic. 

Qiara probiotics may help maintain and support gastrointestinal health and general wellbeing, improve healthy digestive system function and help to restore 'good bugs' and balance to the microbiome and ecosystem in the gut for infants, including those with colic or reflux. Always seek the advice of your healthcare practitioner.

Qiara is almost tasteless, so it's easy to take for all the family.

Simply add contents of sachet to some water, milk or juice, a smoothie or add to soft food such as yoghurt and consume straight away. Qiara probiotics can also be sprinkled on cereal or added to warm (not hot) drinks or food and consumed immediately.

The recommended dosage for Qiara is one sachet daily, however, you may take up to 2 sachets per day if required to maintain and restore good gut flora during and after antibiotic use.

Each box of Qiara probiotics contain 28 sachets which will last 4 weeks if taken once daily.

Probiotics are known as transient bacteria and will usually disappear when not consumed regularly. It is recommended you take one sachet of Qiara every day to help support ongoing gastrointestinal system health.

Qiara has not been shown to react to medications or other supplements, however we always recommend seeking medical advice from your GP if unsure. To maximise the effect of Qiara, we recommend taking our probiotic at least two hours before or after other probiotics and antibiotics.

Yes. However, to maximise the effect of Qiara, we recommend taking our probiotics at least 2 hours apart from taking antibiotics. For maximum benefit, take one sachet twice daily during antibiotic course and continue with 2 sachets for 5 days following completion of antibiotics.

No, Qiara does not contain contain dairy, lactose, yeast, eggs, gluten, nuts, soy, corn, animal products, preservatives, artificial flavours or colouring.  It is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Probiotics are sensitive to high temperature, however there is no need to keep Qiara in the fridge provided it is regularly stored below 25C. It's perfect for travelling as it is stable at room temperature.

The only added ingredient to Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 is rice maltodextrin.

Yes.

Qiara has been clinically tested across all lifespans. Occasionally, when first commencing the probiotic, individuals may experience slight flatulence that will subside in a few days. Please consult with a Health Professional if you need further individualised advice.

It is never too early to start taking Qiara to support your microbiome before and during pregnancy. Qiara can be used as prevention, maintenance, treatment and to optimise the microbiome and to support your gastrointestinal system health.

If you are exclusively breastfeeding your baby, we recommend that you take Qiara Pregnancy & Breastfeeding, there is no need to dose the baby directly unless advised by your healthcare professional. Being a probiotic strain isolated from breastmilk, it will pass to your baby through breastfeeding.

Seek the advice of your healthcare practitioner. Qiara probiotics help increase healthy digestive microflora or good bacteria growth and maintain and support gastrointestinal system health for all ages. It is suitable to support healthy digestive system function in all infants including babies with reflux.

If recommended by your healthcare practitioner, the spoon can be used for giving your breastfed infant a direct dose for a few days in addition to that received via breastmilk. Just mix one tiny scoop with a little breastmilk into a paste and place it between the cheek and gum. This can be during or following an illness or course of antibiotics. 1 scoop per day for newborn is equivalent to half a Qiara Infant sachet. 2 scoops per day from 12 weeks is equivalent to one Qiara Infant sachet. If the baby is formula fed or predominately on solids (6+ montths), we recommend Qiara Infant and dosing the baby directly. Please see Qiara Infant product for how to serve.

Yes, being a breastmilk probiotic strain, the bacteria passes from mum's gut into breastmilk via the entero-mammary pathway and  benefits baby via breastmilk.

Both products contain the same ingredients however Qiara Pregnancy & Breastfeeding is a much higher dose (3 billion CFU's) than Qiara Infant (300 million CFU's) as it is designed to be adequate and effective for a pregnant and/or breastfeeding woman.

Although a benefit from Qiara can be achieved relatively quickly, it is recommended to continue taking it during pregnancy and the period of exclusive breastfeeding. It continues to provide benefit to mother and baby for as long as it is taken.

Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 (the strain of beneficial bacteria used in ALL Qiara Products) works by reducing pathogenic bacteria and inflammation in the digestive system while also increasing beneficial micro flora throughout the body and supporting the immune system.

GBS (Group B Strep) positive mums are routinely administered antibiotics to prevent infection and translocation to baby. While necessary, antibiotics are not selective and can also reduce the levels of beneficial and protective flora in mums gut and breastmilk.

This can lead to an imbalance between the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria and a condition called ‘dysbiosis’.

Taking Qiara daily before and after antibiotics may assist in maintaining the balance of good bacteria in the gut and in breastmilk.

Establishing good gut health and a strong and robust microbiome is important from pre-conception. Recent research suggests a healthy gut and reproductive microbiome may be beneficial for fertility outcomes. Along with a healthy diet and lifestyle, taking one sachet of Qiara Pregnancy & Breastfeeding sachet daily during preconception may help support gastrointestinal system health, and increase beneficial flora levels contributing to a healthy robust microbiome.

Qiara Infant is suitable for all infants to support gastrointestinal health from 0-24 months. If your infant is exclusively breastfed, it is recommended that mum takes Qiara Pregnancy & Breastfeeding.

Both products contain the same ingredients however Qiara Infant is a much lower dose (300million CFU) than Qiara Pregnancy & Breastfeeding (3billion CFU) as it is designed to be given to a baby 0-24 months.

We suggest that Qiara Infant be taken for a minimum of 3-6 months and that all formula fed babies take Qiara Infant for the entire duration of bottle feeding. Qiara Infant will continue to maintain and support good gut health for your baby / infant / toddler for as long as it is taken. For older infants on solids, Qiara Infant can be mixed with food or drinks.

Yes.  If you are administering a colic mix to your non-breastfed baby suffering colic symptoms, Qiara Infant may help increase healthy digestive flora and good bacteria growth and maintain and support your baby’s gastrointestinal system health.

If you are administering a colic mix to your breastfed baby, mum should take Qiara Pregnancy & Breastfeeding probiotic which will benefit your infant via breastmilk -  or as directed by your health professional.

Qiara has not been shown to react to medications or other supplements, however we always recommend seeking advice from your health professional if unsure.

To maximise the effect of Qiara, we recommend taking our probiotics separately to other probiotics and antibiotics (at least 2 hours apart).

Yes, Qiara Infant can be taken during a course of antibiotics to help maintain good gut flora during antibiotic use and to restore good gut flora after antibiotic use. However, to maximise the effect of Qiara, we recommend taking our probiotic at least 2 hours before or after taking antibiotics (not together).

You should always seek advice of your health professional, however the ingredients in Qiara are considered allergen friendly.

1. Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716
2. Rice Maltodextrin 

Qiara is free from Gluten, Soy, Dairy, Corn, Nuts, Eggs.  Contains no animal products and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Qiara is GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) free.

Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 (the probiotic strain originally isolated from breastmilk used in ALL Qiara Products) works by maintaining and supporting gastrointestinal health, increasing beneficial micro flora throughout the body.

Breastmilk is rich in probiotics, prebiotics and essential nutrients that help babies establish a balanced microbiome, immune system and healthy digestion. 

Supplementing your baby's diet with Qiara Infant may help build and maintain the levels of beneficial bacteria and support the microbiome, which in turn may assist in the development of their immune system.   It is suitable for all infants to support gastrointestinal health including infants experiencing  diarrhoea, constipation, reflux and colic and to help restore good gut flora during or following antibiotics.

• supports gastrointestinal health 
• restores and maintains good bacteria during and after antibiotic use
• assists healthy digestive function 
• supports microbiome and gut health
• improves good bacteria growth

Breastmilk is rich in probiotics, prebiotics and essential nutrients that help babies establish a balanced microbiome, immune system and healthy digestion. 

Babies no longer being breastfed may be missing out on the beneficial "good bacteria" or need additional probiotic support for gastroinestinal health.

Supplementing your baby's diet with Qiara Infant may build and maintain the levels of beneficial bacteria and support the microbiome, which in turn may promote the development of their immune system. Qiara Infant helps support and maintain gastrointestinal system health in all infants, including those with diarrhoea, constipation, reflux and colic.

Reflux and Colic are thought to be common in young babies due to an immature gut and digestive system.

Disruptions to the microbiome in the stomach and intestines can increase the incidence of reflux and  colic. 

Qiara probiotics help maintain and support gastrointestinal health and general wellbeing, improve healthy digestive system function and  help to restore 'good bugs' and balance to the microbiome and ecosystem in the gut for infants, including those with colic or reflux symptoms.

The breastmilk strain in Qiara probiotic has many clinically proven beneficial mechanisms of action to help support gastrointestinal (GI) health. Some of these include :

• Reducing Inflammation
• Restoring good bacteria
• Suppressing growth of 'bad bugs'
• Supporting the gut lining
• Supporting the immune system
• Supporting healthy & regular bowel motions

Through Qiara's many beneficial actions - it can help support gastrointestinal health at any life stage - and is particularly useful in pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and early infancy during the 'foundation stage' of microbiome development (the first 1000 days - from conception- 2 years old)

The probiotic strain Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 isolated from breastmilk and found in Qiara Infant is supported by research.  For further information seek advice from your health care practitioner. 

1. Ruth Blanco-Rojo, José Maldonado, Monika Schaubeck, Metehan Özen, Eduardo López-Huertas and Mónica Olivares."Beneficial Effects of Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716 Administration to Infants Delivered by Cesarean Section" Frontiers in Pediatrics., 07 July 2022 Sec. Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.906924

2. Belén Pastor-Villaescusa, Ruth Blanco-Rojo and Mónica Olivares. Evaluation of the Effect of Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 on Gastrointestinal Infections in Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Microorganisms 2021, 9(7), 1412; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9071412 Published: 30 June 2021

3.J. Maldonado, M. Gil-Campos, J. A. Maldonado-Lobón, M. R. Benavides et al Evaluation of the safety, tolerance and efficacy of 1-year consumption of infant formula supplemented with Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 Lc40 or Bifidobacterium breve CECT7263: a randomized controlled trial BMC Pediatrics "Lactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716 is safe and well tolerated in infants of 1-6 months of age: a randomized controlled trial.", Article number: 361 (2019)

4.Gil-Campos Mercedes, López Miguel Ángel, Rodriguez-Benítez M Victoria, Romero Julio, Roncero Inés, Linares M Dolores, Maldonado Jose, et al. 2012. "Lactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716 is safe and well tolerated in infants of 1-6 months of age: a randomized controlled trial." Pharmacological research : the official journal of the Italian Pharmacological Society 65 (2): 231-8. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2011.11.016.

5. Maldonado, J etal. 2012. "Human milk probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 reduces the incidence of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract infections in infants.". J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2012 Jan;54(1):55-61. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0b013e3182333f18.