Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 and Improved Skin Hydration

Research synthesisLow evidenceMixed effect size10 studies · 10 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 10 studies, 10 reported beneficial effects of Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 on skin hydration, with effect sizes predominantly small to moderate. The highest-quality evidence comes from a single randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 126 adults showing marginal improvements in transepidermal water loss and corneal hydration, though results were not statistically significant. A meta-analysis of probiotic interventions (including this strain) found a moderate beneficial effect on skin hydration (pSMD = 0.71, p = 0.0026), but doses and populations varied across studies.

Caveats: Only one primary RCT exists for this specific strain, and its findings were not statistically significant (P values ranging from 0.05 to 0.09). Most other evidence comes from reviews that aggregate broader probiotic categories, limiting specificity to Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803. Effect sizes are mixed (small to moderate) and clinical significance is unclear.

Generated May 11, 2026

10 of 10 papersPopulation:

Effects of oral intake of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 (SBL88™) on dry skin conditions: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- 2016-11-02
- RCT · n = 126
- Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 12(6)
- - M. Ogawa
  - A. Saiki
  - Y. Matsui
  - Norihiko Tsuchimoto
  - Y. Nakakita
  - Y. Takata
  - Takeshi Nakamura
- PubMed: 28105118
- DOI: 10.3892/etm.2016.3862
4 Insights on
- Improved Skin Hydration
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
- Adults
The results of the present study revealed that following the analysis of the whole populations, marginal differences were observed in TEWL (for example, suppression of skin water loss) at the neck in the 25 mg/day group at week 8 and at the lower eye region in the 50 mg/day group at week 4 (P=0.05 and 0.09, respectively, compared with the placebo group analyzed by Dunnett's test). A significant increase in corneal hydration was also observed at the neck in the 25 mg/day group at week 12 (P=0.06, as compared with the placebo group as analyzed by Dunnett's test).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dietary interventions in skin ageing: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- 2025-10-31
- Meta-Analysis
- Journal of physiological anthropology 44(1)
- - Jun Yan Ng
  - Xuan Min Gail Yan Ng
  - Qi Yi Ambrose Wong
  - Fook Tim Chew
- PubMed: 41174715
- DOI: 10.1186/s40101-025-00408-4
4 Insights on
- Improved Skin Hydration
- High evidence
Several interventions improve skin hydration, including ... prebiotics and probiotics (pSMD = 0.71 [0.25, 1.16], p = 2.64 × 10-3)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Novel Application of Oral Postbiotics for Skin Condition in Healthy Middle-Aged Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Study.
- 2025-12
- RCT · n = 60
- Journal of cosmetic dermatology 24(12)
- - Jinko Sawashita
  - Shinichi Honda
  - Yuji Tominaga
  - Namiko Tomatsu
  - Jordi Espadaler-Mazo
  - Takahiro Ueda
- PubMed: 41414786
- DOI: 10.1111/jocd.70617
7 Insights on
- Improved Skin Hydration
- High evidence
Cheek skin moisture and transepidermal water loss improved for both groups after the intervention.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Probiotics in Extraintestinal Diseases: Current Trends and New Directions.
- 2019-04-05
- Review
- Nutrients 11(4)
- - Despoina E Kiousi
  - Athanasios Karapetsas
  - Kyriaki Karolidou
  - Mihalis I Panayiotidis
  - Aglaia Pappa
  - Alex Galanis
- PubMed: 30959761
- DOI: 10.3390/nu11040788
2 Insights on
- Improved Skin Hydration
- Moderate evidence
- Rigorous Journal
consuming Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 ... improved skin hydration
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis.
- 2018-07-10
- Review
- Frontiers in microbiology 9
- - Iman Salem
  - Amy Ramser
  - Nancy Isham
  - Mahmoud A Ghannoum
- PubMed: 30042740
- DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01459
2 Insights on
- Improved Skin Hydration
- Moderate evidence
- Highly Cited
consuming Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 was associated with improved skin hydration in healthy adults
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Interaction between the microbiota and the skin barrier in aging skin: a comprehensive review.
- 2024-01-19
- Review
- Frontiers in physiology 15
- - Yu Ri Woo
  - Hei Sung Kim
- PubMed: 38312314
- DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1322205
4 Insights on
- Improved Skin Hydration
- Low evidence
studies have substantiated their efficacy in enhancing hydration, reducing wrinkles, and fortifying barrier integrity
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
How Microbiomes Affect Skin Aging: The Updated Evidence and Current Perspectives.
- 2022-06-22
- Review
- Life (Basel, Switzerland) 12(7)
- - Yanisa Ratanapokasatit
  - Wannada Laisuan
  - Teerapong Rattananukrom
  - Aisawan Petchlorlian
  - Iyarit Thaipisuttikul
  - Mongkhon Sompornrattanaphan
- PubMed: 35888025
- DOI: 10.3390/life12070936
2 Insights on
- Improved Skin Hydration
- Low evidence
Consumption of Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 was reported to improve skin hydration in human subjects.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Probiotics in Citrus Fruits Products: Health Benefits and Future Trends for the Production of Functional Foods-A Bibliometric Review.
- 2022-04-29
- Review
- Foods (Basel, Switzerland) 11(9)
- - Shênia Santos Monteiro
  - Verônica Macário de Oliveira
  - Matheus Augusto de Bittencourt Pasquali
- PubMed: 35564022
- DOI: 10.3390/foods11091299
3 Insights on
- Improved Skin Hydration
- Low evidence
consumption of Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 was associated with improved skin hydration
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Microorganisms: A Potential Source of Bioactive Molecules for Antioxidant Applications.
- 2021-02-20
- Review
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 26(4)
- - Alka Rani
  - Khem Chand Saini
  - Felix Bast
  - Sanjeet Mehariya
  - Shashi Kant Bhatia
  - Roberto Lavecchia
  - Antonio Zuorro
- PubMed: 33672774
- DOI: 10.3390/molecules26041142
4 Insights on
- Improved Skin Hydration
- Low evidence
consuming Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 ... improved skin moisture content and skin elasticity
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Gut Microbiome and Space Travelers' Health: State of the Art and Possible Pro/Prebiotic Strategies for Long-Term Space Missions.
- 2020-09-08
- Review
- Frontiers in physiology 11
- - Silvia Turroni
  - Marciane Magnani
  - Pukar Kc
  - Philippe Lesnik
  - Hubert Vidal
  - Martina Heer
- PubMed: 33013480
- DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.553929
5 Insights on
- Improved Skin Hydration
- Low evidence
Oral intake of Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 improves skin hydration in healthy women.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small