From ChatGPT:
• The original strain (Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3, DSM 14241) was deposited at DSMZ (Germany’s strain bank).
• Licensed companies (VF Bioscience in Europe) culture it under controlled lab conditions → freeze-dry it → encapsulate it.
• So unlike common yogurt cultures (which can be propagated locally), ME-3 is tightly held under patent/licensing agreements. You won’t find it just by buying generic L. fermentum.
I can no longer find the strain ME-3 anywhere. Must be a patent problem according to ChatGPT. Consumer Labs in their lipid section once favorably reviewed a product called Reg’Active ME -3 which contains this bacteria strain that lowers lipid levels. It was available on Amazon. Has been unavailable and off the market for a year now. It really lowered my lipid levels to normal. .
I take 5 mg rapamyacin weekly and the only side effect I’ve from this is dosage is elevated lipids. ME-3 worked like a charm.