What is Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242?

Overview

Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242 was discovered in 2010 by a team of Canadian scientists. It was initially selected among other probiotic strains in the lab for safety and desired qualities before being tested in clinical trials [R].

Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242 was first called “Cardioviva” but is now trademarked “Microbiome Plus.”

It has been granted a GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) designation by the FDA. Interestingly, several Lactobacillus probiotics have GRAS status because they’re a normal part of our gut flora and have a long history of safe use in traditional fermented foods.

However, Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242 supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and lack large-scale clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for supplements but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

How It Works

Scientists think Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242 may work by helping the body take in less and get rid of more cholesterol.

L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 carries an important enzyme called bile salt hydrolase (BSH). This enzyme sets bile acids free from their bound form (deconjugating them) [R].

Bile acids conjugated into bile salts with the amino acids glycine or taurine have digestive action [R].

Free bile acids in the gut reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the gut that comes from both food and circulating bile. Unlike bound bile salts, free bile acids attach to cholesterol and get eliminated with the stool [R].

To make up for the loss, the liver increases the production of new bile acids. The body breaks down more cholesterol to keep up [R].

When free bile acids are released in the gut, mucin production also rises. Mucin is a gel-like layer that lies on top of the gut lining. It helps protect the gut lining, repair gut damage, and maintain a healthy gut microbiome. Low mucin has been implicated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [R, R].

On a cellular level, the BSH action of Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB

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What Is Leaky Gut?

The theory is fairly simple. When there are abnormalities in the intestinal barrier, the intestinal permeability increases. This potentially means that more of the gut content can pass/leak through, which is referred to as “leaky gut” [R].

Some scientists think that when the gut is leaky, gut bacteria and their products may escape the gut, which could potentially produce inflammation and cause tissue damage. Similarly, food-derived antigens (proteins or partially digested proteins) could pass through the gut and promote both local or whole-body immune responses [R].

To learn more about what makes the gut “leaky” and the conditions associated with it, check out this post.

How to Prevent a Leaky Gut

As leaky gut may occur as a symptom in a number of underlying diseases, the most important thing is to work with your doctor to address any potential underlying health condition.

For example, several studies have shown that chronic infections can increase gut permeability, and therefore they need to be addressed if possible [R, R, R, R, R].

Some clinical studies show that addressing leaky gut may be beneficial in some gut-related conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and celiac disease. However, at this point in time, there is little to no clinical evidence that addressing leaky gut could improve any particular non-gut related condition.

1) Potentially Beneficial Lifestyle and Dietary Changes

Much of the emerging research shows that stress may increase intestinal permeability [R, R, R]. Managing stress levels is one way to potentially improve the function of your intestinal barrier and your overall health.

A healthy circadian rhythm may also help keep your gut healthy [R].

Alcohol increases intestinal permeability and is best avoided if you have gut issues [R, R, R]. Even moderate consumption can increase intestinal permeability in people who have gut inflammation [R].

If you have certain food sensitivities (e.g. gluten), you may need to avoid offending foods. However, make sure your diet is overall healthy and well balanced, to avoid nutritional deficiencies [R].

2) Moderate Exercise

In 30 people with diabetes who initially had

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What is Lactobacillus brevis?

Lactobacillus brevis is a plant-derived lactic acid bacterium isolated from ‘Suguki’, a traditional Japanese pickle produced in Kyoto (R).

L. brevis can be found in fermented foods such as sauerkraut and pickles. It is also a normal part of the human gut microbiota.

Health Benefits of L. brevis

L. brevis probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Possibly Effective For

1) Immunity

L. brevis reduced the incidence of influenza in 1089 elementary school children. The improvement was especially pronounced in unvaccinated individuals (R).

Oral administration of live, but not heat-killed, L. brevis significantly increased IFN-α production in 60 volunteers. The intake tended to be most beneficial in subjects with initially low levels of IFN-α production (R).

L. brevis alleviated influenza virus infection symptoms in mice (R).

L. brevis enhanced cytotoxic activity of mouse splenocytes (R).

L. brevis exhibited antiviral activity towards herpes virus (HSV-2) and inhibits HSV-2 multiplication (R).

2) Dental Health

L. brevis improved oral pH, reduced salivary Streptococcus mutans, and reduced bleeding on probing in 191 high caries risk schoolchildren (R).

L. brevis had anti-inflammatory effects and brought about the total disappearance or amelioration of clinical symptoms in 8 healthy subjects and 21 patients with periodontitis (R).

L. brevis exerted oral anti-inflammatory properties, possibly by preventing nitric oxide synthesis, in 34 healthy adults (R).

L. brevis inhibited periodontal inflammation, significantly decreased bone loss and lowered the count of anaerobic bacteria in mice with periodontitis (R).

3) Gut Health

Constipation

Heat-killed L. brevis improved intestinal function in 32 women with constipation and promoted the growth of Bifidobacteria (R).

Marked enhancement of NK-cell activity and improved bowel symptoms were observed in 44 female students with constipation, who consumed pickles containing dead L. brevis cells (R).

The post Could L. brevis Improve Your Health? Immunity, Gut, & More appeared first on SelfHacked.

What is Lactobacillus crispatus?

Lactobacilli inhabiting the human vagina are the first line of defense in the female urogenital and reproductive tracts. Lactobacillus crispatus is prevalent in the healthy cervicovaginal microbiota, where it produces lactic acid, a potent broad-spectrum bactericide, and virucide, and acts as an immunomodulatory agent (R).

Health Benefits of L. crispatus

L. crispatus probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Insufficient Evidence For

The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of L. crispatus probiotics for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking L. crispatus, and never use it in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.

1) Female Urogenital Health

L. crispatus reduced recurrent urinary tract infections in 100 premenopausal women [R].

L. crispatus inhibited Chlamydia trachomatis, the most common sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen, in human epithelial cells and macrophages [R, R].

L. crispatus promoted defense against Candida albicans infection in cell studies [R, R].

L. crispatus inhibited E. coli activity [R].

Cervicovaginal mucus with high L. crispatus concentrations trapped the HIV virus in a lab setting. It is unclear whether this result has any relevance to HIV infection in a clinical setting, and we recommend strongly against attempting to use L. crispatus to prevent HIV [R].

Animal & Cell Research (Lacking Evidence)

No clinical evidence supports the use of L. crispatus for any of the conditions listed in this section. Below is a summary of the existing animal and cell-based research, which should guide further investigational efforts. However, the studies listed below should not be interpreted as supportive of any health benefit.

2) Allergies

Oral ingestion of L. crispatus alleviated allergic rhinitis in mice, possibly via the adjustment of the Th1/Th2 balance (R, R, R).

3) Gut

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What is Lactobacillus johnsonii?

Lactobacillus johnsonii is a lactic acid bacterium that resides in the human gastrointestinal tract where it aids in polysaccharide and protein digestion and also generates a variety of nutrients, including vitamins and short-chain fatty acids. L. johnsonii also plays a role in the fermentation and preservation of various food items.

Health Benefits of L. johnsonii

L. johnsonii probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Possibly Effective For

1) H. pylori

L. johnsonii was inversely associated with H. pylori colonization in 621 children (R, R) and in 12 asymptomatic volunteers (R).

Fermented milk containing L. johnsonii co-administered with antibiotics was shown to have a favorable effect on H. pylori gastritis in 50 volunteers (R).

During the early infection stages, administration of L. johnsonii attenuated H. pylori-induced gastritis in mice (R).

Both live and heat-killed L. johnsonii inhibited the growth of H. pylori in mice, where they also suppress gastric acid secretion (R).

Insufficient Evidence For

The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of L. johnsonii probiotics for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking L. johnsonii probiotics, and never use them in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.

2) Gut Microbiota

Fermented milk with L. johnsonii increased total Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli and decreased lecithinase-positive Clostridium in 22 women (R).

L. johnsonii intake increased the populations of C. histolyticum, Lactobacilli, and Bifidobacteria, and decreased those of F. prausnitzii in 8 volunteers (R).

3) Immunity

Fermented milk containing L. johnsonii reduced the rate of infections in 24 elderly, hospitalized patients (R).

L. johnsonii helps recover nutritional status and systemic immune responses in aged mice (R).

L. johnsonii inhibits the growth of Helicobacter

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What is Depression?

Depression — also referred to as Unipolar Depression and Major Depressive Disorder — is a complex disease with many contributing factors, including a wide variety of lifestyle, dietary, genetic, and environmental factors.

In short, we still don’t completely understand what causes depression. Moreover, conflicting results have arisen from studies that look at the effectiveness of antidepressants for the treatment of depression.

The only effective treatments — neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitors — still have only relatively low efficacy, as up to 30-40 % of patients do not respond to these drugs, and 60-70% of patients do not experience full remission (R, R).

In addition, these medications can take a long time to become effective even in patients who do respond well to them; and many patients experience a number of severe side-effects while taking them.

Diagnostic Criteria for Depression

The primary diagnostic criteria for depression include (R):

• Depressed or irritable mood
• Decreased interest in pleasurable activities, and/or the inability to experience pleasure
• Significant weight gain or loss (>5% change in a month)
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Psychomotor agitation or retardation
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

However, note that not every symptom is required to be present in order to be diagnosed with depression: most patients only have a subset of the full “core” symptoms.

Known Risk Factors for Depression

Some of the known factors that can increase a person’s risk of experiencing depression include (R):

• The highest-risk age group is people between the ages of 25-30
• Females are approximately twice as likely to have depression than males
• People who are divorced, separated, or widowed have been reported to have relatively higher risks of depression compared to people who are married or who were never married
• People with annual incomes of less than $20,000/year may be at increased risk, and overall rates of depression tend to decrease as a person’s income increases (but

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What is Propionibacterium freudenreichii?

Propionibacterium freudenreichii is widely used in the food industry, especially as a starter in the production of Swiss-type cheeses such as Emmental and Maasdam. These bacteria are essential for the development of a nutty and sweet flavor. They also produce CO₂ responsible for the appearance of the holes typical of Swiss cheeses (R).

An estimated one billion living cells of P. freudenreichii are present in one gram of Emmental (R).

In the food industry, P. freudenreichii is also used as a vitamin producer, certain strains having the ability to produce vitamins such as riboflavin (R) and cobalamin (vitamin B₁₂) (R).

In addition to its traditional use, research has recently focused on health benefits related to P. freudenreichii (R). It was shown that the consumption of this bacterium modulates the gut microbiota, which makes P. freudenreichii both a probiotic and a prebiotic (R).

Health Benefits of P. freudenreichii

P. freudenreichii probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Insufficient Evidence For

The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of P. freudenreichii probiotics for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking P. freudenreichii probiotics and never use them in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.

1) Gut Microbiota

Propionibacterium freudenreichii stimulated the growth of Bifidobacteria in the colon in healthy volunteers (R, R).

Bifidogenic growth stimulator (BGS) is a prebiotic preparation produced by P. freudenreichii that stimulates the growth of Bifidobacteria (R).

2) IBD

Propionibacterium freudenreichii improved the symptoms of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis in a human pilot study (R).

P. freudenreichii accelerated the healing in rats with colitis (R, R).

A component of P. freudenreichii improved survival rate and reduced damage

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What Are Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA)?

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs; acetic, propionic and butyric acid) are formed during bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates in the colon.

SCFAs cause low intestinal pH from the ileum (end of the small intestine) to the cecum (beginning of large intestine), which prevents the overgrowth of bad bacteria (like Enterobacteriaceae and Clostridia) (R).

SCFAs help fix ‘leaky gut’, strengthening the intestinal wall by increasing the secretion of mucin-2 (MUC-2), which then prevents LPS from crossing the barrier (R).

SCFAs In the Human Gut

Out of the total SCFAs present in the colon, 90%-95% are acetate, propionate, and butyrate in healthy people.

• Acetate 60%
• Propionate 25%
• Butyrate 15%

Most of the SCFAs are absorbed in the colon, being exchanged with bicarbonate (R).

SCFAs are acidic, while bicarbonate is alkaline.

SCFAs and Obesity

There is some conflicting information on SCFAs and weight. On the one hand, they increase caloric utilization. On the other hand, they have been inversely associated with obesity. Overall, butyrate seems to be broadly protective against obesity, propionate has mixed associations, and acetate is linked to weight gain (R).

The fecal concentration of SCFAs is 20% higher in obese individuals than in their lean counterparts. According to some researchers, this may reflect a compensatory protective mechanism against obesity, in which a greater amount is eliminated from the stool (R).

This would prevent the increased accumulation of SCFA in the intestines, which may cause weight gain (mainly from acetate) (R).

SCFAs like butyrate and propionate increase the formation of the gut hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and polypeptide YY (PYY). These reduce food intake by decreasing appetite (R).

Butyrate

Butyrate reduces food intake and has been linked to weight loss.

Researchers are also investigating butyrate’s potential to combat autoimmunity, cancer, and psychological disorders. Butyrate, which is primarily produced by Firmicutes bacteria in the gut, appears to affect gene expression in the brain (R, R).

Butyrate is primarily used by colon cells as a major source of energy

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What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a beverage made from tea, sugar, yeast, and bacteria. A culture of acetic bacteria and fungi (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast, or SCOBY) ferments the sugared tea. Originally from China, the beverage made its way to Korea, Japan, and Russia, where its health benefits became well known (R).

Traditionally, Kombucha is made using white sugar and black tea, but can also be made with green or oolong tea. After the tea is prepared, sugar, starter culture, and tea fungus are added to the mixture to ferment the tea for one to eight weeks (R).

After this fermentation period, kombucha is ready to be taken out and stored in a clean container. It is consumed after fermentation is finished (R).

Kombucha is believed to have many health benefits for immune function, inflammation, heart disease, and digestion (R).

Antioxidant Activity

The antioxidant activity in tea and Kombucha can be attributed to their catechin and polyphenol content from the tea leaves (R).

The fermentation process increases free radical scavenging activities in Kombucha, so Kombucha has even higher antioxidant activity than unfermented tea (R).

Health Benefits of Kombucha

Although kombucha has many health benefits, its safety is not guaranteed because most of the studies are done on rats and other animals. More human studies must be done before its health benefits can be confirmed.

Kombucha is considered safe to drink for most people, but it has not been approved by the FDA for any health purpose and generally lacks solid clinical research.

Insufficient Evidence For

The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of kombucha for any of the below-listed uses. Kombucha is considered safe for most people, but it should never be used in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.

1) Gut Health

Kombucha is a probiotic drink. Some researchers believe that the microorganisms found in the tea may balance intestinal microbiota, improve digestion, fight against harmful bacteria, and aid gut processes (R).

The bacteria and yeast used in the fermentation process have been found to promote the growth of beneficial microbes in the intestine. When humans are exposed to unhealthy environments, their gut microbiota can change

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What is Lactobacillus helveticus?

Lactobacillus helveticus is a lactic acid bacterium, traditionally used in the manufacture of Swiss-type cheeses and long-ripened Italian cheeses such as Emmental, Gruyere, Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano (R).

More recently, L. helveticus has become increasingly recognized as an important health-promoting probiotic (R).

Health Benefits of L. helveticus

L. helveticus probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Possibly Effective For

1) Blood Pressure

L. helveticus fermented milk lowered blood pressure in 154 hypertensive subjects (R, R).

In 40 subjects with high-normal blood pressure or mild hypertension, daily ingestion of tablets containing powdered fermented milk with L. helveticus reduced blood pressure without any adverse effects (R).

Long-term treatment with L. helveticus-fermented milk reduced arterial stiffness in 89 hypertensive subjects (R).

L. helveticus produces angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptides that may prevent or control high blood pressure (R).

Insufficient Evidence For

The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of L. helveticus for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking L. helveticus probiotics, and never use them in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.

2) Depression

In a study of 55 volunteers, L. helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum reduced psychological stress levels and markers of depression in subjects who took the probiotics regularly (R).

L. helveticus also improved depression in rats (R).

3) Sleep

L. helveticus-fermented milk significantly improved sleep efficiency in 29 healthy elderly people (R).

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What Is Bifidobacterium bifidum?

Bifidobacteria account for more than 80% of microorganisms within the intestine, being Bifidobacterium bifidum the second most prominent species found in breast-fed infants. During adulthood, the levels of Bifidobacteria decrease considerably but remain relatively stable (2-14%) until they start decreasing again in old age [R, R].

Various diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and allergies have been associated with lower numbers of Bifidobacteria at various stages of life [R].

Source: [R]

B. bifidum is an important bacterium that inhibits other microbes of the human gut microbiota. This probiotic has potential health benefits, such as reducing irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, and pathogen infections [R].

How Does It Work?

By increasing IgA, IgM, and IgG while decreasing IgE, B. bifidum may help both boost the immune system and reduce allergies [R, R].

B. bifidum may also help with allergies by lowering the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 , balancing the levels of IFN-γ, and increasing the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and specific immune cell types (CD25 and Foxp3) [R, R].

In aging mice, B. bifidum stimulated the immune system by significantly increasing cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ while decreasing IL-6 and TNF-α levels [R].

In mice with IBD, B. bifidum reduced inflammation by inhibiting the Th1 response and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and keratinocyte-derived chemokine), chemokines (MCP-1) and enzymes (COX-2, MPO). It can also reduce cell death by increasing the production of TLR-2 and PGE₂ [R, R, R].

In mice with H. pylori infection, B. bifidum suppressed the pro-inflammatory IL-8 and NF-κB signaling pathways in [R].

B. bifidum also increased the cytotoxic

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What is Lactobacillus delbrueckii?

Lactobacillus delbrueckii is a species of lactic acid bacteria that is widely used in dairy fermentation (R).

Previously known as L. bulgaricus and L. lactis, these probiotics were shown to have highly similar DNA to L. delbrueckii, and have since been considered to be subspecies of L. delbrueckii (R).

L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus was discovered more than a century ago in 1905, as a result of a study into the unusual longevity of mountain villagers in Bulgaria (and was thus at the time named L. bulgaricus) (R).

In 1912, the New York Times wrote an article about the use of fermented yogurts with L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus in Bulgaria titled “Metchnikoff Confirmed in His Theory of Long Life” (R).

Today, L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus is one of the economically most important lactic acid bacteria and is used worldwide in the production of yogurt (R).

Health Benefits of L. delbrueckii

L. delbrueckii probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Possibly Effective For

1) H. pylori Infection

L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, together with Streptococcus thermophilus, improved H. pylori eradication rates in 292 infected patients. This result suggests a role for L. delbrueckii probiotics alongside conventional therapy for H. pylori infection (R).

L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus inhibited H. pylori in the laboratory (R).

Insufficient Evidence For

The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of L. delbrueckii for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking L. delbrueckii probiotic supplements, and never use them in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.

2) Gestational Diabetes

In a study of 64 pregnant women with gestational diabetes, L. delbrueckii

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What is Saccharomyces cerevisiae?

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the yeast commonly referred to as brewer or baker’s yeast. This microorganism has been instrumental to winemaking, baking, and brewing since ancient times.

The commercial product known as “nutritional yeast” contains the inactivated S. cerevisiae. This product is high in protein, fiber, and B vitamins, especially folate.

S. cerevisiae is a veterinary probiotic widely used in animal nutrition (R). Although several S. cerevisiae strains have proven probiotic potential in humans, only the related S. boulardii is currently licensed for use as a human probiotic (R).

Folate Source

S. cerevisiae is a rich dietary source of folate (R).

S. cerevisiae was shown to increase the folate contents of rye flour-water mixtures (R).

Potential Benefits of S. cerevisiae

S. cerevisiae probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use. Supplements generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Insufficient Evidence For

The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of S. cerevisiae for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking S. cerevisiae probiotics, and never use them in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.

1) Gut Health

Oral treatment with viable or heat-killed S. cerevisiae strain prevented bacterial translocation, protected intestinal barrier integrity, and stimulated immunity in mice with intestinal obstruction (R).

S. cerevisiae strengthened epithelial barrier function in a cell study (R).

IBS

In one clinical trial, S. cerevisiae reduced abdominal pain and discomfort in subjects with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (R).

In another trial, however, S. cerevisiae had no beneficial effect on IBS symptoms and wellbeing. However, it seemed to have some effect in the subgroup with constipation (R).

IBD

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What is L. lactis?

Lactococcus lactis is a lactic acid-producing Gram-positive species of bacteria used extensively in the production of buttermilk, cheese, pickled vegetables, and other fermented products.

L. lactis is often studied as a genetically modified organism for the treatment of animal (R, R, R, R, R, R) and human diseases (R). Its health benefits as a probiotic, however, are not as well-known or researched.

Note that this post is about Lactococcus lactis. For more information about the bacterium formerly known as Lactobacillus lactis, check out this post on L. delbrueckii.

Antioxidant Properties

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) of L. lactis increased catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in mice (R).

Potential Benefits of L. lactis

L. lactis probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Insufficient Evidence For

The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of L. lactis for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking L. lactis probiotic supplements, and never use them in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.

1) Skin Health

Ingestion of milk fermented with L. lactis increased sebum production, thereby potentially reinforcing the skin barrier in 23 healthy young women (R).

Ingestion of heat-killed L. lactis also maintained skin hydration and improved subjective skin elasticity in 30 middle-aged Japanese women (R).

Animal & Cell Research (Lacking Evidence)

No clinical evidence supports the use of L. lactis for any of the conditions listed in this section. Below is a summary of the existing animal and cell-based research, which should guide further investigational efforts. However, the studies listed below should not be interpreted as supportive of any health benefit.

2)

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What is Lactobacillus casei?

Lactobacillus casei is a Gram-positive, nonpathogenic lactic acid bacterium (R). It is found in fermented dairy products (e.g. cheese), plant materials (e.g. wine, pickles) and in the reproductive and gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals (R, R).

As a nutritional supplement, Lactobacillus casei has been shown to improve intestinal microbial balance, arthritis, type 2 diabetes and to have potential anti-cancer properties (R).

Antioxidant Activity

L. casei combined with prebiotic inulin improved human plasma antioxidant capacity (R).

Treatment with L. casei reduced oxidative stress caused by aflatoxin and induced a significant improvement in all the biochemical and histological liver parameters in rats (R).

Potential Benefits of L. casei

L. casei probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Possibly Effective For

1) Gut Health

Intestinal Microbiota

L. casei consumption altered the composition and diversity of human intestinal microbiota. There is a positive correlation between L. casei and Prevotella, Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, Propionibacterium, Bifidobacterium and some Bacteroidaceae and Lachnospiraceae, and a negative correlation with the presence of Clostridium, Phascolarctobacterium, Serratia, Enterococcus, Shigella, and Shewanella (R).

L. casei suppressed potentially harmful Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter in volunteers (R).

Fermented milk containing L. casei preserved the diversity of the gut microbiota, relieved abdominal dysfunction, and prevented an increase in cortisol levels in healthy medical students exposed to academic stress (R).

Constipation and Diarrhea

Continuous consumption of fermented milk containing L. casei alleviated constipation-related symptoms, provided satisfactory bowel habits, and resulted in earlier recovery from hemorrhoids in women after childbirth (R).

A fermented milk beverage containing L. casei relieved irregular bowel movement in gastrectomized patients. It reduced the degree of

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What is Lactobacillus salivarius?

Lactobacillus salivarius is one of the most prevalent species in human saliva. It produces organic acids, such as lactic acid and acetic acid, from carbohydrates, which can inhibit the growth of surrounding microorganisms. It also produces hydrogen peroxide and other antimicrobial substances (R).

This bacterium is believed to stimulate the immune system, improve intestinal disease and promote well-being (R).

Health Benefits of L. salivarius

L. salivarius probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use. Supplements generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Possibly Effective For

1) Dental Health

L. salivarius beneficially changed the bacterial population of gum plaque in 66 volunteers (R).

L. salivarius increased resistance to caries risk factors in 64 healthy volunteers (R).

Oral administration of L. salivarius improved bad breath, showed beneficial effects on bleeding on probing from the periodontal pocket, and inhibited the reproduction of “bad” bacteria (R, R, R, R).

Periodontal clinical parameters especially improved in smokers (R).

However, the authors of one study suggested that L. salivarius itself may possess an inherent cariogenic activity following adherence to the tooth surface (R).

Insufficient Evidence For

The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of L. salivarius for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking L. salivarius probiotic supplements, and never use them in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.

2) Obesity

L. salivarius increased the ratio of beneficial bacteria (Bacteroides, Prevotellae, and Porphyromonas) to Firmicutes-belonging bacteria in obese adolescents (R).

6-week supplementation of L. salivarius along with fructooligosaccharide (FOS) significantly reduced total cholesterol, “bad” (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides, and increased “good” (HDL) cholesterol in 45 human subjects. Blood inflammatory markers were also significantly reduced (R

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What is Lactobacillus fermentum?

Lactobacillus fermentum is a Gram-positive lactic acid bacterium, commonly found in fermenting animal and plant material. It is also commonly found as a component of the human microbiota.

L. fermentum exhibits significant antioxidant properties (R, R).

Health Benefits of L. fermentum

L. fermentum probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Insufficient Evidence For

The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of L. fermentum for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking probiotic supplements and never use them to replace something your doctor recommends or prescribes.

1) Cholesterol

L. fermentum modestly improved cholesterol in a clinical study of 46 people (R).

L. fermentum reduced total blood cholesterol, total triglyceride levels and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in mice. It also decreased body weight and liver weight/body weight ratio (R).

2) Immunity

L. fermentum reduced the duration and severity of respiratory illness in highly trained distance runners (R).

L. fermentum reduced the severity of gastrointestinal and respiratory illness symptoms in male but not female cyclists (R).

L. fermentum reduced gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract infections in infants (R, R).

L. fermentum also alleviated pain and reduces the load of Staphylococcus in the breastmilk of women suffering from painful breastfeeding (R).

Animal & Cell Research (Lacking Evidence)

No clinical evidence supports the use of L. fermentum for any of the conditions listed in this section. Below is a summary of the existing animal and cell-based research, which should guide further investigational efforts. However, the studies listed below should not be interpreted as supportive of any health benefit.

3) Nutrient Bioavailability

L. fermentum was shown to increase the bioavailability of calcium, phosphorus,

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What is Clostridium butyricum?

Clostridium butyricum is a butyric acid-producing, Gram-positive bacteria found in soil and the intestines of healthy animals and humans (R).

Butyrate (butyric acid) is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) that serves as energy for colonic epithelial cells, plays a key role in maintaining gut immunological homeostasis, and exerts anti-inflammatory effect (R).

Furthermore, butyrate is not restricted to the intestinal tract but can be disseminated systemically and is detected in the brain. Butyrate in the brain can exert neuroprotective effects on neurodegenerative disorders and improve behavioral deficits via the inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs) (R).

Clinical research about C. butyricum is still pretty limited, but you can check out the benefits of butyrate here.

C. butyricum has been used as a probiotic for non-antimicrobial induced diarrhea, antimicrobial-associated diarrhea, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome (R).

Tablets containing C. butyricum were approved from the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare for human clinical use since 1970 (R) and are widely used in Asia.

Health Benefits of C. butyricum

C. butyricum probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use. Supplements generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Possibly Effective For

1) Gut Health

Diarrhea

Concomitant administration of C. butyricum with antibiotics normalizes the intestinal microbiota, prevents the decrease of Bifidobacteria, effectively prevented antibiotic-associated diarrhea in 110 children (R).

IBD

In 80 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with food allergy, specific immunotherapy (SIT) and C. butyricum significantly improved UC clinical symptoms, reduced the use of UC-control medicines, and suppressed the Th2 response (R).

Probiotic therapy with C. butyricum achieved favorable results with minimal side effects in 17 pouchitis in patients with UC who had undergone ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) (R).

Mouse Studies

C. butyricum prevents acute colitis in mice through induction of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine (R).

C. butyricum effectively prevents bloody diarrhea and mucosal damage

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What is Bifidobacterium breve?

Bifidobacterium breve is a beneficial bacterium that can be found in human breast milk and the gastrointestinal tracts of infant and adult humans. As an individual ages, the total population of B. breve within their gut decreases (R).

Potential Benefits of B. breve

B. breve supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing with probiotics.

Possibly Effective For

1) Skin Health

B. breve and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) increased skin hydration and clearness in two studies of a total of 141 healthy young adult and adult women (R, R).

B. breve also prevented water loss, improved skin elasticity and hydration, and attenuated the damage induced by chronic UV irradiation (photoaging) in mice (R, R, R).

2) Allergies

B. breve reduced the risk of developing eczema and atopic sensitization in 117 infants at high risk of allergic disease (R).

Administration of B. breve to 19 preterm infants triggered an anti-inflammatory response that may be of benefit in attenuating allergic reactions (R).

B. breve improved symptoms of allergic hypersensitivity to cow’s milk and atopic dermatitis in 17 infants and 15 children (R, R).

Oral administration of B. breve shortly after birth can significantly alleviate the symptoms of allergic rhinitis in newborn mice (R).

B. breve mediates anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic reactions in newborn rats (R).

Oral administration of B. breve suppresses the Th2 immune response and IgE production and modulates the systemic Th1/Th2 balance in allergic mice (R).

3) Gut Health

Gut Microbiota in Infants

In a study of 30 low birth weight infants with no other deformities, chromosomal abnormalities, or intrauterine infections, early administration of B. breve promoted the colonization of Bifidobacteria and the formation of normal intestinal flora (

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What is Bifidobacterium animalis?

Bifidobacterium animalis is a gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium which can be found in the gut of most mammals, including humans. It is considered to be part of the healthy, beneficial gut flora [R].

B. lactis was previously considered to be a separate species but was shown to be a subspecies of B. animalis (hence B. animalis ssp. lactis) (R), and therefore it is addressed as such in this post. Note that most of the research mentioned below were carried out with this subspecies.

Potential Benefits of B. animalis

B. animalis probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Possibly Effective For

1) Gut Health

Diarrhea and Constipation

B. lactis milk formula administered to 50 children with acute diarrhea decreased the frequency, duration of diarrhea, and hospital stay (R).

B. animalis spp. lactis prevented acute diarrhea in 90 infants (R).

Treatment with B. animalis spp. lactis and inulin shortened the duration of acute diarrhea in 156 children. The benefits were most pronounced in cases of Rotavirus diarrhea (R).

B. animalis spp. lactis together with Streptococcus thermophilus reduced the frequency of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in 80 infants (R).

Ingestion of fresh cheese enriched with B. animalis spp. lactis showed beneficial effects on constipation symptoms in women (R).

Fermented milk containing B. animalis spp. lactis had beneficial effects on stool frequency, defecation condition and stool consistency in 135 adult women with constipation (R).

B. animalis ssp. lactis increased Bifidobacteria and improved constipation in 17 human subjects (R).

IBS

B. animalis had a beneficial effect on discomfort, bloating and constipation in 274 constipation-predominant IBS patients (R

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What is Lactobacillus acidophilus?

Lactobacillus acidophilus is a gram-positive lactic acid bacterium, that has been traditionally and widely used in the dairy industry, and more recently as a probiotic (R).

L. acidophilus is added to commercial yogurts and dairy formulations both for its flavor and for probiotic effect and is one of the most commonly selected Lactobacillus species for dietary use (R).

Potential Benefits of L. acidophilus

L. acidophilus probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use. Supplements generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Possibly Effective For

1) Iron Status

Iron deficiency was associated with low levels of Lactobacilli in a small study of young women in south India (R).

190 preschool children supplemented with L. acidophilus exhibited higher red blood cell status (R) and a significant reduction in the prevalence of anemia (R).

L. acidophilus increases iron bioavailability in rats (R).

2) Cholesterol

In multiple clinical studies, daily consumption of L. acidophilus or a fermented product containing L. acidophilus after each dinner contributed to a significant reduction in cholesterol (R). However, in another study, L. acidophilus did not lower blood cholesterol in men and women with normal to borderline high cholesterol levels (R).

L. acidophilus reduces cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in mice fed a high-fat diet (R).

L. acidophilus lowers total blood cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and TAG, and total liver cholesterol and liver TAG in rats (R, R).

3) Cardiovascular Disease

L. acidophilus consumption led to a 2.4% to 3.2% reduction in blood cholesterol in clinical studies. Since every 1% reduction in serum cholesterol concentration is associated with an estimated 2% to 3% reduction in risk for coronary heart disease, the authors argued, regular intake of L. acidophilus has the potential to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease by 6 to 10% (R).

L. acidophilus

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What is Lactobacillus gasseri?

Lactobacillus gasseri is a lactic acid bacteria that is being investigated for various potential health benefits because of its antimicrobial activity, bacteriocin production, and purported modulation of the innate and adaptive immune systems (R).

Potential Benefits of L. gasseri

L. gasseri probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use. Supplements generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Possibly Effective For

1) Weight Management

L. gasseri significantly decreased BMI, abdominal visceral fat, waist and hip circumferences, and body fat mass in 210 healthy Japanese adults, with an 8.5% decline in abdominal fat area over twelve weeks. However, the authors warned that constant consumption of this probiotic may be required to maintain this effect (R).

Despite there being no change in behavior or diet, administration of L. gasseri modestly reduced weight and waist and hip circumference in obese and overweight adults (R).

L. gasseri significantly decreased body weight and visceral and subcutaneous fat areas in adults with obese tendencies (R).

L. gasseri reduced body weight and fat tissue mass in mice (R) and rats (R).

L. gasseri prevented weight gain in obese mice (R).

Obesity

L. gasseri prevented abdominal fat accumulation (R) and decreases body weight in adults with obese tendencies (R).

L. gasseri suppressed lipase-mediated fat hydrolysis in humans (R) and mice (R).

L. gasseri prevented the enlargement of fat cells and an increase in abdominal fat volume in rats, mice, and humans (R, R, R).

L. gasseri inhibited dietary fat absorption in rats (R).

L. gasseri ameliorated systemic and fat tissue inflammation in obese mice (R), by inhibiting macrophage invasion (R).

Heat-killed L. gasseri stimulated respiratory immune responses of obese host animals to

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What is Lactobacillus paracasei?

Lactobacillus paracasei is a gram-positive lactic acid bacterium, commonly used in dairy products and probiotics. Both L. paracasei and its fermented products are effective immunomodulators, they alleviate allergies, prevent gastric mucosal lesions and inhibit fat tissue accumulation (R).

Potential Benefits of L. paracasei

L. paracasei probiotic supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.

Possibly Effective For

1) Allergies

A significant reduction of nasal symptoms and improved quality of life were achieved in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis, who received L. paracasei when pollen scattering was low. However, the effects were limited during the peak period (R).

L. paracasei has allergy reducing effects in mice, by balancing the Th1/Th2 responses (R).

L. paracasei induces Th1 and regulatory responses in mice, suppresses airway inflammation, and down-regulates allergen-specific immune responses (R, R).

L. paracasei administration to mothers during gestation/lactation protects against airway inflammation in offspring in mice (R).

Allergic Rhinitis

At least five clinical studies with L. paracasei demonstrated clinically significant improvements in allergic rhinitis (R), one did not (R).

Subjects with a medical history of allergic rhinitis to grass pollen that received L. paracasei -fermented milk had lower nasal congestion and nasal itching (R).

In children with perennial allergic rhinitis, L. paracasei improved symptoms of sneezing, itchy nose, and swollen eyes (R).

L. paracasei improves the quality of life of subjects with persistent allergic rhinitis who are being treated with an oral H1-antihistamine. In this study, nasal symptoms had not changed, but ocular symptoms had consistently improved (R).

Heat-killed L. paracasei can effectively improve the overall quality of life for patients with allergic rhinitis induced by house dust mite in human subjects (R).

2) Skin

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Probiotics & Healthy Aging: Insufficient Evidence

When we age, the composition of our gut flora shifts, and our immune response declines. Are these connected? Some researchers think they might be. This post will explore the relationship between probiotics and immune function in elderly people.

Because immune function is less robust in older adults than in young people, it’s especially important to consult your doctor before taking probiotics to stave off the effects of aging.

Note that probiotics’ benefits to aging are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of probiotics for this purpose. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking probiotic supplements, and never use it in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.

Human Studies

Levels of Bifidobacteria decrease as we age (R).

B. animalis spp. lactis beneficially modified gut microbiota in the elderly, increasing Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli, and Enterococci and reducing Enterobacteria (R).

B. animalis spp. lactis enhanced natural immunity in healthy elderly subjects (R). B. animalis spp. lactis increased leukocyte phagocytic and NK cell tumor-cell-killing activity in the elderly and increases the proportions of total, helper (CD4(+)), and activated (CD25(+)) T lymphocytes and natural killer cells (R, R, R).

B. longum stimulated the immune functions in the elderly (R).

B. bifidum and L. acidophilus positively modulated the immunological and inflammatory responses in elderly subjects (R).

Some researchers believe that L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus may favor the maintenance of an adequate immune response in the elderly, possibly by slowing the aging of the T-cell subpopulations and increasing the number of immature T cells which are potential responders to new antigens (R).

L. acidophilus increased Bifidobacteria levels and beneficially changed microbiota in elderly subjects (R).

Heat-killed L. gasseri enhanced immunity in the elderly. This probiotic increased the number of CD8(+) T cells and reduced CD28 expression loss in CD8(+) T cells (R).

Animal Studies

Feeding of probiotic bacteria (L. reuteri)

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