Commercial disclosure: We sell both products compared in this guide: Restore Balance Complex and our 20 Billion CFU Live Culture Capsules. The comparison uses the quantities declared on their current labels.
Scope: This guide explains supplement labels and Great Britain advertising rules. It does not claim that caprylic acid or the live-culture strains prevent, treat or cure any condition.
Caprylic acid and CFU measure two completely different things. Caprylic acid is an eight-carbon fatty acid, also called octanoic acid or C8. CFU stands for colony-forming units and is used to declare the quantity of viable live cultures. One is an ingredient amount; the other is a microbiological count.
Quick answer
Restore Balance Complex declares 215mg of caprylic acid, supplied as magnesium caprylate, plus 100 million CFU each of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum: 200 million CFU, or 0.2 billion, in total. The dedicated 20 Billion CFU product declares 100 times that live-culture quantity. That compares quantity, not overall quality or suitability.
Caprylic acid and CFU: key label facts
| Label term | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Caprylic acid | An eight-carbon saturated fatty acid, also called octanoic acid or C8 | Whether the milligrams refer to caprylic acid provided or the complete caprylate compound |
| Magnesium caprylate | A magnesium salt of caprylic acid | Do not assume that the full compound weight is all caprylic acid |
| CFU | Colony-forming units: an estimate of viable microorganisms capable of forming colonies under specified test conditions | The amount per capsule or daily serving, and whether it is stated at manufacture or through shelf life |
What is caprylic acid?
Caprylic acid is the common name for octanoic acid, a straight-chain saturated fatty acid containing eight carbon atoms. That is why it is often shortened to C8. It occurs naturally as part of the fats in coconut oil, palm-kernel oil and the milk of several mammals.1
You may also see C8 discussed in relation to MCT oil. The connection is real, but the forms should not be confused: commercial MCT oils generally contain triglycerides built from medium-chain fatty acids rather than free caprylic acid.
Is magnesium caprylate the same as caprylic acid?
No. Magnesium caprylate is a magnesium salt of caprylic acid. It contains caprylate together with magnesium, so the total weight of the compound is not necessarily the same as the amount of caprylic acid it provides.
- “Caprylic acid 215mg, as magnesium caprylate” declares the caprylic acid amount provided.
- “Magnesium caprylate 500mg” declares the weight of the complete compound and does not, by itself, disclose the caprylic acid equivalent.
Restore Balance Complex declares 215mg of caprylic acid, supplied as magnesium caprylate. That figure should be supported by the raw-material specification used for the finished product.
Can a Great Britain supplement make health claims for caprylic acid?
The current Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register does not contain an authorised health claim for caprylic acid. The ingredient may be named, quantified and described factually, but commercial health claims must comply with the authorised register.2
What does CFU mean on a supplement label?
CFU stands for colony-forming units. It is used to express the declared quantity of viable microorganisms in a product. Unlike milligrams, it is a microbiological count rather than a weight.3
A CFU figure is useful, but it is not a complete quality score. It does not, by itself, establish that one formulation is more suitable than another or that the largest number is automatically the best choice.
How do millions and billions of CFU compare?
- 100 million CFU = 0.1 billion CFU
- 200 million CFU = 0.2 billion CFU
- 1 billion CFU = 10 times 100 million CFU
- 20 billion CFU = 100 times 200 million CFU
The calculation using our labels
100 million + 100 million = 200 million CFU = 0.2 billion CFU.
20 billion ÷ 0.2 billion = 100 times the declared total CFU.
Does a higher CFU count mean a better product?
Not automatically. A higher CFU count means that the label declares a larger viable quantity. Suitability also depends on the organism identity, strain information, serving size, storage instructions, shelf-life guarantee and the purpose of the formulation.
Three more things to check on a CFU claim
- At manufacture or at the end of shelf life? A count guaranteed through the best-before date is more informative than a figure measured only when the product was made.
- Per capsule or per daily serving? Compare products on the same basis.
- Are the organisms identified precisely? Genus and species are useful; a full strain designation provides more information again.
Which of our two products fits each comparison?
| Product | Caprylic acid | Declared live cultures | Best fit when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restore Balance Complex | 215mg as magnesium caprylate | 0.2 billion CFU total from two named species | You are comparing the complete multi-ingredient formula rather than shopping primarily by CFU |
| 20 Billion CFU Live Culture Capsules | None declared | 20 billion CFU per capsule from eight named species | A substantially higher declared live-culture quantity is your main label priority |
Can live cultures make authorised health claims in Great Britain?
There is no authorised GB health claim for the Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacterium bifidum in Restore Balance Complex, or for the dedicated capsule simply because it contains live cultures.
One important exception exists: specified starter cultures in qualifying yoghurt or fermented milk may use an authorised lactose-digestion claim where the stated conditions are met. That claim applies to the named yoghurt cultures and food format; it does not apply to these capsules.4
Why do careful UK labels often say “live cultures” rather than “probiotic”?
CAP guidance says that “probiotic” is likely to fall within the GB health-claims rules. Depending on context, it may be treated as a general or specific health claim. A general health claim needs to be accompanied by a sufficiently relevant authorised specific claim.5
What can Restore Balance Complex legally claim?
The authorised claims used for the formula come from its zinc content. Each capsule provides 3.1mg zinc, equal to 31% NRV:
- Zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
- Zinc contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
- Zinc contributes to normal acid-base metabolism.
- Zinc contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism.
The caprylic acid, botanicals and live cultures can be identified and quantified, but they should not be given unauthorised health benefits merely because they appear alongside zinc.
Frequently asked questions
Is caprylic acid the same as C8?
Yes. Caprylic acid is the common name for octanoic acid, an eight-carbon fatty acid commonly shortened to C8.
Is MCT oil the same as caprylic acid?
No. MCT oil normally contains triglycerides built from medium-chain fatty acids, often C8 and C10. It is related to caprylic acid, but it is not the same as free caprylic acid or a caprylate salt.
Does 500mg magnesium caprylate provide 500mg caprylic acid?
Not necessarily. A label stating only the total compound weight does not directly disclose the caprylic acid equivalent.
Is 20 billion CFU more than 200 million CFU?
Yes. Two hundred million CFU equals 0.2 billion CFU, so 20 billion is 100 times the declared quantity.
Is a higher CFU count always better?
No. A higher number means a larger declared viable quantity, but it does not automatically establish better quality, stronger evidence or greater suitability.
The main points
- Caprylic acid is a C8 fatty acid; magnesium caprylate is a compound that supplies it.
- Compare the declared caprylic acid equivalent, not automatically the total weight of a caprylate salt.
- CFU is a viable-culture count, not a weight.
- Compare CFU on the same serving basis and check whether the count applies through shelf life.
- A higher CFU count compares quantity; it does not prove that a product is better.
- The authorised claims for Restore Balance Complex come from its zinc content, not from caprylic acid or the live cultures.
Choose by what you are actually comparing
For the complete multi-ingredient label, view Restore Balance Complex.
For a dedicated product with a substantially higher declared live-culture count, view the 20 Billion CFU Live Culture Capsules.
Related guides
- How to compare live-culture strains and CFU counts
- How to read a supplement label line by line
- Which supplement health claims are legal?
- Our comparison of UK aloe vera supplements
Sources and methodology
Product quantities were checked against the current product pages and labels available on 31 July 2026. CFU totals were converted to billions so the two products could be compared on the same scale. Regulatory wording was checked against official Great Britain and CAP sources.
- PubChem: Octanoic acid, US National Library of Medicine.
- Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Probiotics fact sheet.
- Authorised claim for specified live yoghurt cultures.
- ASA/CAP: Probiotic claims.
Written by Barry Lees, founder of The Health Improvers. Last reviewed 31 July 2026. Always read the product label. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. This article is general information and is not medical advice.
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