Sauerkraut

Studies in people

• Open question

  Gut bacteria in athletes²

  In athletes, eating sauerkraut for 10 days changed gut bacteria, and some had temporary indigestion that cleared up.

• Benefit

  Breast cancer risk³

  Women who ate more sauerkraut and cabbage, especially raw or lightly cooked, had lower breast cancer risk.

• Open question

  Gut bacteria and blood fats⁴

  In healthy people, eating pasteurized sauerkraut daily for four weeks raised blood short-chain fatty acids and changed some gut bacteria.

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.