though foods may be better carriers for probiotics than supplements if one does choose to go with supplements should be they be taken before during or after meals when it comes to probiotic supplements sold in capsules the commercial literature is often confusing and that sometimes the consumer is instructed to take the probiotics with meals sometimes before or after meals and occasionally on an empty stomach this has led to serious confusion for the industry and the consumer surprisingly it doesn't appear as if any studies had ever examined this question until now to be able to measure probiotic concentrations minute by minute throughout the entire process they had to build a fake digestive tract fake stomach fake intestines but complete with real saliva and digestive enzymes acid bile etc what did they find here's the survival of three different types of probiotics before during and after meals and separately in oatmeal and milk milk alone apple juice or water conclusion probiotic bacteria survival was best when provided within 30 minutes before or simultaneously with a meal or beverage that contains some fat content you