Lactobacillus

Studies in people

• Open question

  Risk of infection³

  Lactobacillus is an extremely rare cause of infection, even in people with weakened immune systems.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Gut and urinary germs⁴

  In lab studies, Lactobacillus strains stopped some gut and urinary germs from growing, but not all of them.

• Benefit

  Constipation relief⁵

  In mice, Lactobacillus acidophilus C4 helped ease constipation and calmed gut inflammation.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.