New evidence
In 9 animal experiments, a probiotic mix with L. reuteri eased anxiety — but the same analysis found no effect on human depression.
This is among the first rigorous reviews of L. reuteri for mood, but the anxiety benefit comes only from animal studies, while the human depression results were null — so it's far too early to draw conclusions for people.
A meta-analysis of studies on Lactobacillus reuteri for depression found that multi-strain probiotics containing this bacterium reduced anxiety-like behavior in 9 animal experiments. However, when the same analysis looked at human depression symptoms, the effect was not statistically significant. This means the evidence for anxiety is still preclinical, and any human benefit remains unproven.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on Lactobacillus reuteri for Reduced Anxiety — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Meta-Analysis
- n = 1,258
- 2025-07
- General hospital psychiatry
This is a plain-language summary of a research finding, not medical advice. Pillser surfaces research signals to help you decide what's worth investigating — always consult a qualified professional before changing what you take.