What does the research say about Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938?
8 health outcomes synthesisedLactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 has been studied across 8 health outcomes, with the strongest evidence supporting its use for reducing abdominal pain (13 studies, 11 showing benefit), crying time in colicky infants (9 studies, 8 beneficial), and diarrhea rate (11 studies, 8 beneficial). Typical effective doses range from 10^8 to 4×10^8 CFU/day, and the research predominantly involves pediatric populations, including infants with colic and children with functional abdominal pain disorders.
Strongest evidence
- Abdominal pain (high evidence): 11 of 13 studies reported a small beneficial effect in children with functional abdominal pain disorders and infants with colic. Effective dose: 10^8 CFU/day.
- Diarrhea rate (high evidence): 8 of 11 studies showed a small beneficial effect, primarily in children aged 6–36 months with acute gastroenteritis. Dose range: 1×10^8 to 4×10^8 CFU/day.
- Crying time (high evidence): 8 of 9 studies reported a moderate reduction in crying time (e.g., –45 to –65 min/day) in infants with colic, especially breastfed. Dose: 1×10^8 to 5×10^8 CFU/day.
Mixed or weaker evidence
- Duration of diarrhea (moderate evidence): All 5 studies showed benefit, but effect sizes varied (small to large); pediatric populations only.
- Crying duration (low evidence): 2 of 3 studies beneficial, with a large effect in one review (WMD –51.3 h) but limited by small study count.
- Vomiting frequency (low evidence): 3 of 3 studies reported small benefits in infants, but all are preliminary.
- Diarrhea (low evidence): 1 of 3 studies beneficial (small effect); the rest neutral.
- Stool volume (very low evidence): 1 of 3 studies beneficial (small effect).
Effective dose patterns
Across outcomes, the most consistently studied dose is 10^8 CFU/day, with a range of 1×10^8 to 5×10^8 CFU/day. Higher doses (up to 4×10^8 CFU/day) were used in some diarrhea studies, but the lower end appears sufficient for most benefits.
Population insights
All strong evidence comes from pediatric populations: infants with colic, children aged 6–36 months with acute diarrhea, and children with functional abdominal pain. Applicability to adults is limited or unknown; only one study touched on adults (not significant). No consistent benefit in antibiotic-exposed neonates or healthy children in resource-limited settings.
Notable caveats
- Publication bias is suspected; null-result studies may be underrepresented.
- Several high-quality RCTs (e.g., large trials for crying time and diarrhea) found neutral effects, suggesting context-dependence.
- Small sample sizes and heterogeneous outcome measures limit comparability.
- Most evidence is short-term (up to 8 weeks); long-term effects are not well studied.
Frequently asked
What is Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 good for according to research?
Research shows it may reduce abdominal pain, diarrhea rate, and crying time in infants with colic, with high evidence strength. It may also shorten diarrhea duration and reduce vomiting frequency, but evidence for these is weaker.
What dose of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is typically used in studies?
Studies commonly use doses between 1×10^8 and 4×10^8 CFU per day. For abdominal pain and crying time, 10^8 CFU/day is most frequent; for diarrhea, up to 4×10^8 CFU/day has been tested.
Who benefits most from Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938?
Infants with colic (especially breastfed), children with functional abdominal pain disorders, and children aged 6–36 months with acute diarrhea show the most consistent benefits. Evidence in adults is lacking.
Are there caveats or limitations in the research on Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938?
Yes. Publication bias may overstate benefits, some high-quality trials found neutral effects, and many studies had small sample sizes. Most evidence is in pediatric populations, limiting generalizability to adults.
Does Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 help with infant colic?
Yes, the evidence is high. 8 of 9 studies reported reduced crying time, with moderate effect sizes (e.g., 45–65 minutes less crying per day), especially in breastfed infants. A typical dose is 10^8 CFU daily.
Does it reduce diarrhea in children?
For diarrhea rate and duration, evidence is positive but with caveats. 8 of 11 studies show reduced diarrhea rate (small effect), and all 5 studies show reduced duration (mixed effect sizes). Benefits may depend on setting and diarrhea type.
Safety profile
25 studies reporting safety data2 serious adverse events
Across 25 clinical studies, no specific adverse events were found to be increased with Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938. The supplement was described as well tolerated in 26 general tolerability mentions, and 18 quantitative comparisons of specific events (e.g., crying time, stool consistency, gastrointestinal symptoms) showed no significant differences versus control. Two serious adverse events were reported but were not significantly associated with the probiotic.
Caveats: Most studies were short-term (≤12 weeks) and designed for efficacy, not safety, so rare adverse events may not be detected. The evidence largely comes from infant and pediatric populations; safety in adults, elderly, or immunocompromised individuals is less characterized.