How our Gut Works® supplement works | DRV+

How your gut supports your brain

Our gut is known as our 'second brain'. Our gut and brain are connected by a combination of the 'vagus nerve' and hormones, which is known as the 'Gut-brain axis'. The emotional and cognitive centres of your brain are connected with your gut microbiome and gastrointestinal function. Research shows that the health of our gut bacteria is vital to this connection and in turn our mood, mental health, our ability to manage stress, our ability to concentrate and focus, and much more. Learn more in 'Why your gut is your second brain'.

How to take it?

Take 1 capsule each day
Take one capsule daily, with or without food. Two can be taken if you need them.
Take consistently
Gut Works® builds. Take it every day for at least 60 days, and expect it to keep improving well past that.
Adjust when needed
Take your capsule at least 20 minutes before or after anything hot, and keep the pouch sealed away from warmth, sunlight and moisture, because live cultures are sensitive to heat.

What to expect?

2 WEEKS

Improved gut microbiome diversity and number of good bacteria.

1 Month

Healthy changes in bowel movements, combats bloating, wind and gas, and digestive discomfort after meals.

2 Months

Improved absorption of nutrients, and overall gut health.

Ingredients

Ingredient

Why it's included

What the research says

Inulin

Prebiotic fibre

Feeds the friendly bacteria already living in your gut.^1–3

Psyllium Husk

Soluble fibre

Forms a gel that holds water, softening and bulking stool.^{1, 2, 4, 5}

Lactobacillus Acidophilus DDS-1

Gut microbiome

In 330 adults with IBS, it eased abdominal pain three times more than placebo over six weeks.^{1, 2, 6, 7}

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus LGG

Gut microbiome

One of the most trialled strains in the world, best known for settling antibiotic-related diarrhoea.^{1, 2, 8, 9}

Lactobacillus Casei UALc-03

Gut microbiome

Lacticaseibacillus casei is one of the most studied bacteria, found on plants and in the human gut.^{1, 2}

Bifidobacterium Lactis BB-12

Gut microbiome

Tested for bowel habit in 1,248 adults, one of the largest single-strain trials run.^{1, 2, 10, 11}

Streptococcus Thermophilus TH-4

Gut microbiome

One of the two classic yoghurt cultures, and among the most widely eaten bacteria in the world.^{1, 2, 12}

Lactobacillus Plantarum PPLP-217

Gut microbiome

Found in the human gut and behind many traditional ferments, from sauerkraut and kimchi to sourdough and brined olives.^{1, 2, 13}

Inulin

Why it's included Prebiotic fibre

What the research says Feeds the friendly bacteria already living in your gut.^1–3

Psyllium Husk

Why it's included Soluble fibre

What the research says Forms a gel that holds water, softening and bulking stool.^{1, 2, 4, 5}

Lactobacillus Acidophilus DDS-1

Why it's included Gut microbiome

What the research says In 330 adults with IBS, it eased abdominal pain three times more than placebo over six weeks.^{1, 2, 6, 7}

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus LGG

Why it's included Gut microbiome

What the research says One of the most trialled strains in the world, best known for settling antibiotic-related diarrhoea.^{1, 2, 8, 9}

Lactobacillus Casei UALc-03

Why it's included Gut microbiome

What the research says Lacticaseibacillus casei is one of the most studied bacteria, found on plants and in the human gut.^{1, 2}

Bifidobacterium Lactis BB-12

Why it's included Gut microbiome

What the research says Tested for bowel habit in 1,248 adults, one of the largest single-strain trials run.^{1, 2, 10, 11}

Streptococcus Thermophilus TH-4

Why it's included Gut microbiome

What the research says One of the two classic yoghurt cultures, and among the most widely eaten bacteria in the world.^{1, 2, 12}

Lactobacillus Plantarum PPLP-217

Why it's included Gut microbiome

What the research says Found in the human gut and behind many traditional ferments, from sauerkraut and kimchi to sourdough and brined olives.^{1, 2, 13}

How it works?

Gut Works® provides 50 billion live cultures from six clinically studied strains, with prebiotic inulin and psyllium husk, in one small daily capsule.

In our study of 146 customers, 95% found Gut Works® effective and 91% reported relief in at least one symptom. Almost four in five had regular or severe gut issues before they started.

Repopulating your microbiome

Your gut holds trillions of bacteria across hundreds of species, and the balance between them shifts constantly with what you eat, how you sleep, stress, and any antibiotics you have taken. Symptoms show up when that balance tips.

Gut Works® adds 50 billion live bacteria every day to repopulate your gut microbiome with healthy, active bacteria, helping fight off unwanted and bad bacteria, parasites and organisms.

Why the strain matters more than the species

Most probiotics tell you only the species, like Lactobacillus acidophilus which is a warning sign. Strains within a species behave differently, and research is conducted on specific strains, not species.

Every culture in Gut Works® is identified to strain level. Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG and Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 are among the most heavily researched live culture strains in the world, BB-12 having been tested for bowel habit in 1,248 adults in one of the largest single-strain trials run. Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 was studied in 330 adults with IBS, where it eased abdominal pain three times more than placebo over six weeks.

Bloating and wind

Bloating is the most common gut complaint, reported by 81% of the 811 adults in our wider gut health survey, and most of it comes down to fermentation. When food reaches your large intestine, bacteria break it down and produce gas as they go. How much gas, and how comfortable you are with it, depends on which bacteria are doing the work.

Among customers in our study who had bloating before starting Gut Works®, 63% reported relief from it, and 61% reported relief from excessive wind.

Regularity, both ways

Psyllium husk is the seed coat of Plantago ovata, and it is included because it is a soluble fibre that forms a gel when it meets water, which softens and bulks stool if you are constipated, and slows things down and firms them up if you are not. Relief rates from users taking Gut Works® in our study were high for constipation (56%) and for diarrhoea (66%).

Feeding what you've added

Gut Works® is a synbiotic rather than simply a probiotic. Live cultures need feeding, and inulin is what feeds them. It is a fibre from chicory root that your own digestive enzymes cannot break down, so it arrives in your large intestine intact and becomes food for the bacteria already living there as well as the ones arriving in your capsule.

Why it keeps getting better

This is arguably the most important finding in our study. Effectiveness climbs steadily with how long people have taken Gut Works®. Among users of under two months, 31% rated Gut Works® extremely effective. Among those at four months or more the combined positive rating reached 98%.

That gradient is what biology predicts. You are not topping up a nutrient, you are shifting a population of trillions, and incoming strains establish gradually rather than in a single dose. While three quarters of people begin to feel a difference within four weeks, fuller results take 3+ months.

Beyond your gut

Your gut does not work in isolation. Over 70% of your immune function sits in the gut lining, your gut is connected to your brain via the gut-brain axis, and with your skin via the gut-skin axis.

In our survey of 811 adults, 97% said their gut health affected at least one other area of their wellbeing, most often their energy, their weight and their mood. It is the clearest argument there is for treating the gut as the foundation for daily health.

The evidence behind DRV+

Gut Health

A microbiome blend, designed to keep working

Probiotics, prebiotics and fibre in one daily capsule. Gut Works® is formulated to support digestive comfort, regularity and a healthy gut microbiome – with benefits that build the longer you take it.

146 respondents

2025-2026

Cross-sectional customer survey

95% found it effective

91% felt relief in 1+ area

90% would recommend it

Study Findings

We ran a real-world feedback study with 146 customers using Gut Works®, tracking their digestive symptoms and how their experience changed over time.

The results?

95% of users rated Gut Works® effective, with 91% enjoying relief in at least one area – most commonly bloating, diarrhoea and excessive wind. Benefits are built with sustained use, with extremely effective ratings rising to 59% among those taking it for four months or more, and 90% of users would recommend it.

What This Means

Support where it matters most

91% felt relief in at least one area.

From bloating and wind to irregularity, most users felt a difference across their most common digestive complaints.

It gets better the longer you take it

Extremely effective ratings rose to 59% among users of four months or more.

Gut Works® supports your microbiome gradually, so the benefits build with consistent daily use — give it a few months to do its best work.

Trusted by the people who use it

90% would recommend it, scoring it 7 or above.

Advocacy this strong reflects users who feel a genuine, lasting difference.

Read the abstract

Gut Health

The hidden burden of gut health

Our survey of 811 adults reveals how widespread, multi-symptom and life-affecting gut health issues really are - and how poorly current options meet the need.

811 respondents

October 2022

Cross-sectional customer survey

92% report gut issues

81% experience bloating

97% say it affects wider wellbeing

Study Findings

We surveyed 811 adults on the prevalence, breadth and psychosocial impact of gut symptoms, and the strategies they use to manage them.

What we found:

92% reported some degree of gut issues, carrying a mean of 6.2 symptoms each - led by bloating (81%), fatigue (62%) and wind (52%). 97% said gut health affected another area of wellbeing such as energy, weight or mood, and 67% found symptoms worsened with anxiety. No management strategy was rated 'very effective' by more than one in five users.

What This Means

It's rarely just one symptom

Mean 6.2 symptoms per person; 41% had seven or more at once.

Gut issues cluster rather than appear in isolation.

It spills into everything

97% said gut health affects energy, weight or mood.

And 67% report a clear gut–anxiety link.

A real unmet need

No strategy was 'very effective' for more than 1 in 5.

Pointing to demand for genuinely effective options.

Read the abstract

References

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The questions people
actually have!

The BBC Good Food Guide review of 'The best probiotic supplements 2025 - tried and tested', published in November 2025, ranked Gut Works as a 'Star Buy' and the Best Vegan Probiotic.

Rated 5/5 and tested for taste, flavour, active ingredients, formulation, value for money and clarity of instructions, the independent reviewers said "Easy to take and featuring a neutral flavour with no noticeable smell, this DRV+ probiotic supplement offers a blend of six well-known probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, alongside prebiotic inulin and psyllium husk. Each capsule delivers an impressive 50 billion CFU, which have a delayed release to help protect bacteria through the stomach. The formula is vegan, allergen-free and comes in a recyclable pouch. While claims reference clinical studies, more transparent evidence for the specific formulation would be reassuring. A 60-day money-back policy adds peace of mind."

Gut health supplements should be taken at least 20 minutes before or after hot food or drinks and ideally on an empty stomach. Probiotics are extremely sensitive to heat, which is why it's important to take them well before or after any hot food or drink. You can take your Gut Works® capsule at any time of day.

Also remember to store your pouch and refillable pill tin in a cool, dry place and away from warm air, moisture or direct heat.

Probiotics are very sensitive to heat and warm air, so keep your pouch away from any warm air or moisture, including radiators, steam from a kettle or showers in a bathroom. If at all uncertain, store in your fridge if it is frost-free.

This is a common question about probiotics. Whilst there can be some exceptions to this rule, the general answer is yes, it’s safe and often recommended to take your probiotics daily to keep your gut microbiome healthy.

Yes, our mission is to bring clarity, simplicity and ethics to your nutrition and supplements, enabling you to achieve your health goals, so we provide a free online Virtual Nutritionist and our expert nutritionists are always on hand to advise.

Our lifestyle and diet are always the first place to start to meet our health goals, so we recommend trying our Virtual Nutritionist.

Still have a question? No problem, our expert nutritionists will be only too happy to help and you can email them at any time at team@drv.co.

Although our supplements are formulated for adults, Gut Works® is safe for teenagers and older children, subject of course to the child being of average size and weight for their age. Gut Works® is a high-strength probiotic, so we would advise for a child under the age of 13 to look at a child-friendly probiotic.

Need advice? No problem, you can email our expert nutritionists at team@drv.co who are always happy to help and advise.

Gut health supplements can be helpful if you’re experiencing symptoms like bloating, irregular bowel movements, food intolerances or frequent digestive discomfort. They can also be beneficial if you’ve recently taken antibiotics, have high stress levels or want to support your immune system. Supplements work best alongside a balanced diet rich in fibre, diverse plant foods and adequate hydration. If your gut symptoms are persistent or severe, it’s worth checking for underlying conditions before starting a supplement.

Most gut health supplements, like probiotics, prebiotics or digestive enzymes work by supporting the balance of your gut microbiome or helping your body break down and absorb food more effectively. Probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria, prebiotics feed those bacteria so they thrive, and digestive enzymes assist in breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Together, they can improve digestion, support nutrient absorption, reduce bloating and enhance overall gut function.

Lactobacilli bacteria live in our digestive, urinary and genital systems and can be found in fermented foods such as yoghurt. Different strains of Lactobacilli bacteria support different functions in the body. Discover more about the most common strains of live cultures.

Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum. You can find all 4 of these strains in Gut Works® along with Bifidobacterium Lactis, Streptococcus Thermophilus, Psyllium Husk powder and Inulin.

Bifidobacterium bacteria live in our intestines as lactic acid bacteria and can also be found in fermented foods.

Inulin is a gut-friendly fibre that helps friendly, active bacteria in your gut to grow. Inulin is a 'prebiotic', and prebiotics are vital to the health of probiotics.