Bifidobacterium plantarum and Improved Gut Microbiota Composition

Research synthesisVery low evidenceMixed effect size3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, all reported beneficial effects on gut microbiota composition, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. No studies reported neutral or harmful outcomes, though none reached statistical significance. The evidence is preliminary and limited to small samples and review-level analyses, with one systematic review in adults with alcoholic liver disease (n=12) showing moderate beneficial effects on gut microbiota composition.

Studied populations: adults with alcoholic liver disease (ALD)

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Many of the included studies did not reach statistical significance — effect may be smaller than the predominant direction suggests.

Generated May 12, 2026

6 of 6 papers

Effects of probiotics on liver function, inflammation, and gut microbiota in alcoholic liver injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- 2025-12-19
- Systematic Review · n = 12
- Frontiers in nutrition 12
- - Mohamed J Saadh
  - Zahraa Sabah Ghnim
  - Morug Salih Mahdi
  - Vimal Arora
  - M M Rekha
  - Ashish Sharma
  - Bhanu Juneja
  - Zafar Aminov
  - Waam Mohammed Taher
  - Mariem Alwan
  - Mahmood Jasem Jawad
  - Atheer Khdyair Hamad
- PubMed: 41487669
- DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1717393
7 Insights on
- Improved Gut Microbiota Composition
- High evidence
Microbial analyses showed an increase in beneficial gut bacteria, including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, and Prevotella, and a decrease in pathogenic taxa such as Escherichia and Shigella.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Probiotics at the Frontline: Redefining Therapeutic Possibilities.
- 2025-12-23
- Review
- Nutrients 18(1)
- - George Stavrou
  - Alexandra-Eleftheria Menni
  - Katerina Kotzampassi
- PubMed: 41515166
- DOI: 10.3390/nu18010048
2 Insights on
- Improved Gut Microbiota Composition
- Moderate evidence
- Rigorous Journal
consuming Bifidobacterium plantarum
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Collection of human bacteria at University of Tartu, Estonia.
- 2026-02-12
- Microbiology resource announcements 15(2)
- - Reet Mändar
  - Hugo Mändar
  - Tiiu Rööp
  - Marika Mikelsaar
- PubMed: 41432456
- DOI: 10.1128/mra.00758-25
5 Insights on
- Improved Gut Microbiota Composition
- Low evidence
The Human Microbiota Biobank (HUMB) at University of Tartu, Estonia, was established to support and promote research activities in the field of human microbiota. The collection contains more than 20,000 bacterial strains, both lactic acid bacteria and opportunistic bacteria.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Ca360 Promotes Oral Iron Repletion, Alters the Gut Microbiota, and Regulates Host Metabolism and Inflammatory Status in a Murine Model of Iron Deficiency Anemia Caused by a Low-Iron Diet.
- 2026-03-12
- Nutrients 18(6)
- - Peiqing Jiang
  - Jing Yang
  - Yuejian Mao
  - Linjun Wu
  - Xiaoqiong Li
  - Xiangyu Bian
  - Jian Kuang
  - Jianqiang Li
  - Fangshu Shi
  - Xiaoqiang Han
  - Jinjun Li
  - Haibiao Sun
- PubMed: 41901074
- DOI: 10.3390/nu18060900
5 Insights on
- Improved Gut Microbiota Composition
- Low evidence
- Rigorous Journal
- Animal Study
B. lactis Ca360 markedly reshaped gut microbiota composition, enriching SCFA-producing anaerobic genera... accompanied by increased acetate, propionate, and butyrate levels.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Latilactobacillus curvatus DCF0620 and postbiotics derived from soybean germ reduce colitis severity by modulating fibrosis and gut dysbiosis.
- 2026-01-06
- Frontiers in immunology 16
- - Jin-Sil Park
  - Hye Yeon Kang
  - JeongWon Choi
  - Wonjong Lee
  - Hyunbin Seong
  - Sang Hee Cho
  - Su Beom Lee
  - Nam Soo Han
  - Jaekwon Choi
  - Bo-In Lee
  - Mi-La Cho
- PubMed: 41567191
- DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1726298
4 Insights on
- Improved Gut Microbiota Composition
- Low evidence
- Animal Study
administration of soybean germ-based postbiotics derived from <i>L. curvatus</i> DCF0620 also demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in the DSS-induced colitis mice, specifically by improving the dysbiosis observed in the colitis mice
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Synergistic anti-obesity effects of Bifidobacterium breve BR3 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP3 via coordinated regulation of lipid metabolism and gut microbiota.
- 2025-12-31
- Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea) 63(12)
- - Misun Yun
  - Dooheon Son
  - Namhee Kim
  - Se Hee Lee
  - Eunbee Cho
  - Sanghyun Lim
- PubMed: 41486934
- DOI: 10.71150/jm.2511001
6 Insights on
- Improved Gut Microbiota Composition
- Low evidence
- Animal Study
Gut microbiota analysis demonstrated an increased relative abundance of beneficial genera, including Akkermansia and Bacteroides, highlighting a microbiome-mediated contribution to the observed metabolic benefits.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate

Bifidobacterium plantarum and Improved Gut Microbiota Composition

Effects of probiotics on liver function, inflammation, and gut microbiota in alcoholic liver injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Probiotics at the Frontline: Redefining Therapeutic Possibilities.

Collection of human bacteria at University of Tartu, Estonia.

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Ca360 Promotes Oral Iron Repletion, Alters the Gut Microbiota, and Regulates Host Metabolism and Inflammatory Status in a Murine Model of Iron Deficiency Anemia Caused by a Low-Iron Diet.

Latilactobacillus curvatus DCF0620 and postbiotics derived from soybean germ reduce colitis severity by modulating fibrosis and gut dysbiosis.

Synergistic anti-obesity effects of Bifidobacterium breve BR3 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP3 via coordinated regulation of lipid metabolism and gut microbiota.