Across 4 studies, 3 reported beneficial effects on quality of life (1 large, 2 moderate), and 1 was neutral (small effect, not significant). The evidence shows a predominantly moderate beneficial effect, with benefits observed in clinical populations including women with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, IBS patients, and cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition. Median study duration was 84 days (12 weeks), suggesting effects may take several weeks to emerge, though duration was reported in only one study.
Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 4 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Two of the beneficial studies are from the same research group (cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition, 2020 and 2020), with one being a protocol and the other a small RCT showing neutral results, introducing uncertainty. The neutral RCT (n=21) had a short 4-week duration and small sample, which may explain lack of effect. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive (3 of 4 studies beneficial) — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Doses and forms were inconsistently reported, limiting dose-response conclusions.
Moreover, the changes in the frequency of vomiting and flatulence were significantly reduced at week 4 compared to baseline in the Lp299v group (p=0.0117).
from: Effects of 4 weeks of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v supplementation on nutritional status,Moreover, the changes in the frequency of vomiting and flatulence were significantly reduced at week 4 compared to baseline in the Lp299v group (p=0.0117).
from: Effects of 4 weeks of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v supplementation on nutritional status,Self-assessment identified that long-term treatment with LP299V was tolerated well by 94 % of patients.
from: [Treatment of IBS with Lactobacillus plantarum 299v: Therapeutic success increases with leLp299v may reduce the gastrointestinal symptoms related to enteral nutrition; notwithstanding, the improvement of quality of life may be the result of enteral nutrition rather than the effect of administration of Lp299v.
from: Effects of 4 weeks of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v supplementation on nutritional status,The NE+Lp299v intervention improved overall quality of life (60.94 pts. vs. 35.94 pts.)
Thus, administration of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v may be effective in improvement of... quality of life of cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition.
Additionally, quality of life increased significantly (mental well-being: + 110 %, influence on everyday life: -67 %, p < 0.01).
The improvement of quality of life was observed in both groups; however, with no statistically significant differences between the analyzed groups (p>0.05).