Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v and iron absorption from food
What it found
In people, the probiotic strain Lp299v increased the share of iron absorbed from meals by about 20 to 50 percent, and some trials found better iron status.
Lab and animal studies suggest ways it may help iron get taken up.
What they found
Studies in people
Iron absorbed from meals
Human isotope studies found that adding Lp299v to meals increased the share of non-heme iron absorbed by about 20 to 50 percent. One study in women of reproductive age saw absorption rise from 19.3 percent to 28.8 percent with the probiotic added to an iron-fortified fruit drink.
Iron status in pregnancy
In a trial of 326 healthy pregnant women, those taking Lp299v had less decline in stored iron and lower rates of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia at 35 weeks compared with placebo. A small pilot trial in 13 pregnant women also suggested better iron maintenance and higher iron levels in newborns.
Iron status in other groups
A trial in 295 adults with newly diagnosed iron deficiency anemia found greater rises in iron markers and hemoglobin when Lp299v was added to iron therapy. In 39 female athletes, ferritin rose more with Lp299v plus iron than with iron alone, though the difference did not reach statistical significance.
Gut side effects of iron
In the 295-person trial, gut intolerance was much lower with Lp299v plus iron than with iron alone (13.0 percent versus 46.5 percent), and fewer people stopped treatment in the first 30 days.
Not all studies agreed
One study in 43 iron-deficient children found no significant difference in ferritin between the Lp299v and placebo groups. Another meal study using freeze-dried Lp299v also found no increase in iron absorption, possibly because the bacteria took longer to become active.
Animal and lab studies
How it may work in the lab
Lab tests using simulated digestion and intestinal cells showed that Lp299v increased the amount of ferric iron during digestion and boosted a gut enzyme that converts iron to a more absorbable form. Animal studies found Lp299v strengthened the gut barrier and raised short-chain fatty acid levels.
What the authors conclude
“The overall conclusion based on available evidence suggests that Lp299v offers a scientifically grounded, mechanistically supported, and clinically relevant approach to improving iron bioavailability and overall iron status.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that Lp299v offers a scientifically grounded, mechanistically supported, and clinically relevant approach to improving iron absorption and overall iron status.
- They say Lp299v works as a bioavailability enhancer rather than a substitute for iron intake.
- They suggest it could be used alongside existing iron strategies, especially where gut side effects limit adherence.
How it was done
Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient shortage worldwide, affecting about 2 billion people. The authors say the body absorbs plant-based iron poorly, and standard iron supplements often cause gut side effects that make people stop taking them.
The authors pulled together 10 human clinical studies of Lp299v, plus lab tests and animal studies, looking at how the strain affects iron absorption and iron status. The human studies included isotope meal studies in women, trials in pregnant women, female athletes, adults with iron deficiency anemia, and children.
What it can’t tell you
- Many of the human studies were small, and some findings did not reach statistical significance, so the size of the effect in the general population is uncertain.
- The studies used different meals, doses, and groups of people, which makes it hard to compare results directly.
- Lab and animal findings show possible mechanisms but cannot prove the same effects happen in people.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (Lp299v), LP299V®, is proprietary to Probi AB, Sweden. BW, MF, CM and GÖ were employed by Probi AB.
The paper
- Title
- Probiotics and iron bioavailability: mechanisms, clinical evidence, and translational applications-a comprehensive review of the probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (LP299V®)
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- Webb B, Farrell M, Montelius C, Önning G (2026). Probiotics and iron bioavailability: mechanisms, clinical evidence, and translational applications-a comprehensive review of the probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (LP299V®). Frontiers in nutrition. doi:10.3389/fnut.2026.1905459Free full textPubMed 42631188DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error