Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Reduced Crying Time

Research synthesisModerate evidenceLarge effect7 studies · 6 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 7 studies, 6 reported beneficial effects of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 on reducing crying time, with effect sizes ranging from small to large. The predominant effect size was large, and the most common dose was approximately 10^8 colony-forming units daily, primarily studied in breastfed infants with colic. Only one study reported a median study duration of 28 days, and no single form was used across a majority of studies.

Effective dose range: 10^8 CFU/day
Studied populations: breastfed infants with colic

Caveats: 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). The only neutral study, a 2017 RCT with 117 participants, had a small effect size and did not reach significance, suggesting potential overestimation of benefit in smaller positive trials. Effect estimates are primarily from studies in infants with colic, limiting generalizability to other populations.

Generated May 22, 2026

Doses used in studies

CFU/day: 100 million–1 billion (median 100 million, IQR 100 million–400 million) — 6 studies

Time to effect

Median: 4 weeks · IQR 4 weeks–4 weeks · Range 4 weeks–4 weeks — Reported in 1 of 7 studies

Safety in these studies

crying timeNo significant differencemean difference = -0.15 (-0.28, -0.01)
Parent-reported crying time (mean difference = -0.15 (-0.28, -0.01)) ... lower in FFI+LR versus FFI-Std
from: Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938-Containing Infant Formulas and the Associations with
difficulty in passing stoolsNo significant differenceadjusted odds ratio (OR) (95%CI) = 0.46 (0.31-0.68)
Compared with FFI-Std, FFI+LR had lower reports of difficulty in passing stools (11% vs. 22%; adjusted-odds ratio (OR) (95%CI) = 0.46 (0.31-0.68))
from: Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938-Containing Infant Formulas and the Associations with
fussiness due to spitting-up/vomitingNo significant differencemean difference = -0.17 (-0.29, -0.05)
fussiness due to spitting-up/vomiting (mean difference = -0.17 (-0.29, -0.05)) were lower in FFI+LR versus FFI-Std
from: Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938-Containing Infant Formulas and the Associations with
hard stoolsNo significant differencemean difference = -0.12 (-0.21, -0.02)
fewer hard stools (mean difference = -0.12 (-0.21, -0.02))
from: Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938-Containing Infant Formulas and the Associations with
head circumferenceNo significant difference
did not influence infants' head circumference
from: The Efficacy and Safety of the Probiotic Bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for Inf
lengthNo significant difference
did not influence infants' length
from: The Efficacy and Safety of the Probiotic Bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for Inf
physician-confirmed colicNo significant differenceOR = 0.61 (0.45-0.82)
less physician-confirmed colic (OR = 0.61 (0.45-0.82))
from: Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938-Containing Infant Formulas and the Associations with
serious adverse eventsNo significant differenceSerious adverse event
was not associated with serious adverse events
from: The Efficacy and Safety of the Probiotic Bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for Inf
spitting-up/vomitingNo significant differencemean difference = -0.18 (-0.34, -0.03)
frequency of spitting-up/vomiting (mean difference = -0.18 (-0.34, -0.03)) ... lower in FFI+LR versus FFI-Std
from: Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938-Containing Infant Formulas and the Associations with
volume of spit-upNo significant differencemean difference = -0.20 (-0.32, -0.08)
volume of spit-up (mean difference = -0.20 (-0.32, -0.08)) ... lower in FFI+LR versus FFI-Std
from: Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938-Containing Infant Formulas and the Associations with
weightNo significant difference
did not influence infants' weight
from: The Efficacy and Safety of the Probiotic Bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for Inf
weight changesNo significant difference
L. reuteri did not influence infants' weight, length or head circumference
from: The Efficacy and Safety of the Probiotic Bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for Inf
Overall tolerabilityReported
L reuteri strain DSM 17938 produced no severe adverse events
from: Lactobacillus reuteri for Infants with Colic: A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled, Randomiz
Overall tolerabilityReported
In addition, L. reuteri did not influence infants' weight, length or head circumference and was not associated with serious adverse events.
from: The Efficacy and Safety of the Probiotic Bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for Inf

7 of 7 papersPopulation:

Lactobacillus reuteri for Infants with Colic: A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial
- 2017-12
- RCT · n = 117
- The Journal of Pediatrics 191
- - Nicole Y. Fatheree
  - Yuying Liu
  - Christopher M. Taylor
  - T. Hoang
  - Chunyan C Cai
  - M. Rahbar
  - M. Hessabi
  - M. Ferris
  - Valarie McMurtry
  - Christine Wong
  - Ta Vu
  - T. Dancsak
  - Ting Wang
  - W. Gleason
  - V. Bandla
  - F. Navarro
  - D. Tran
  - M. Rhoads
- PubMed: 28969890
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.07.036
7 Insights on
- Reduced Crying Time
- High evidence
L reuteri strain DSM 17938 produced no severe adverse events and did not significantly change crying time
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
5 × 10^8 colony-forming units daily
The Efficacy and Safety of the Probiotic Bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for Infantile Colic: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
- 2015-10-28
- Meta-Analysis
- PLOS ONE 10(10)
- - Man Xu
  - Jiao Wang
  - Ning Wang
  - Fei Sun
  - Lin Wang
  - Xiao-hong Liu
  - Vincenzo Lionetti
- PubMed: 26509502
- DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141445
23 Insights on
- Reduced Crying Time
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
Lactobacillus reuteri decreased crying time (min/d) at three weeks (WMD = -45.83; 95% CI: -59.45 to -32.21; P = 0.000)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Significant
Yes
Dose
Not stated
Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938-Containing Infant Formulas and the Associations with Gastrointestinal Tolerance: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
- 2023-01-19
- Observational · n = 1,731
- Nutrients 15(3)
- - L. Lavalle
  - N. Sauvageot
  - C. Cercamondi
  - I. Janković
  - D. Egli
  - Y. Vandenplas
- PubMed: 36771237
- DOI: 10.3390/nu15030530
14 Insights on
- Reduced Crying Time
- High evidence
- Infants
Parent-reported crying time (mean difference = -0.15 (-0.28, -0.01)), frequency of spitting-up/vomiting (mean difference = -0.18 (-0.34, -0.03)), volume of spit-up (mean difference = -0.20 (-0.32, -0.08)) and fussiness due to spitting-up/vomiting (mean difference = -0.17 (-0.29, -0.05)) were lower in FFI + LR versus FFI-Std and similar to BFI.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 Probiotics May Increase CC-Chemokine Receptor 7 Expression in Infants Treated With for Colic
- 2019-07-16
- RCT · n = 50
- Frontiers in Pediatrics 7
- - F. Savino
  - I. Galliano
  - Andrea Savino
  - V. Daprá
  - P. Montanari
  - Cristina Calvi
  - M. Bergallo
- PubMed: 31380326
- DOI: 10.3389/fped.2019.00292
4 Insights on
- Reduced Crying Time
- High evidence
After 28 days, daily mean crying time decrease statistically in the probiotic group: 78 (23) vs. 232 (31), respectively (p < 0.001).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Significant
Yes
Dose
1 × 10^8 CFU daily
Efficacy of a standardized extract of Matricariae chamomilla L., Melissa officinalis L. and tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122) in infantile colic: An open randomized controlled trial.
- 2017-06-30
- RCT · n = 60
- Neurogastroenterology and motility 29(12)
- - M Martinelli
  - D Ummarino
  - F P Giugliano
  - E Sciorio
  - C Tortora
  - D Bruzzese
  - D De Giovanni
  - I Rutigliano
  - S Valenti
  - C Romano
  - A Campanozzi
  - E Miele
  - A Staiano
- PubMed: 28665038
- DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13145
1 Insight on
- Reduced Crying Time
- High evidence
- Infants
At day 28, 39 of 57 (68.4%) of infants in Group C responded to the treatment compared with 57 out of 60 patients (95%) of Group A and 51 out of 59 (86.4%) of Group B (P<.001).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Significant
Yes
Nutraceuticals and Pain Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interaction in Infants and Children: A Narrative Review and Practical Insights.
- 2024-01-25
- Review
- Nutrients 16(3)
- - Silvia Salvatore
  - Mariagrazia Carlino
  - Simona Sestito
  - Daniela Concolino
  - Massimo Agosti
  - Licia Pensabene
- PubMed: 38337634
- DOI: 10.3390/nu16030349
5 Insights on
- Reduced Crying Time
- Moderate evidence
- Rigorous Journal
- Clinical
Significant reductions in colic episodes and crying time were reported ... in one study on Mentha piperita
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Dose
10^8 CFU/day
Probiotics in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.
- 2024-01-01
- Review
- Advances in experimental medicine and biology 1449
- - Iva Hojsak
- PubMed: 39060737
- DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-58572-2_10
2 Insights on
- Reduced Crying Time
- Low evidence
The strongest evidence exists for the use of Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri DSM 17938 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 for the treatment of infantile colic in breastfed infants.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Reduced Crying Time

Lactobacillus reuteri for Infants with Colic: A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial

The Efficacy and Safety of the Probiotic Bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for Infantile Colic: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938-Containing Infant Formulas and the Associations with Gastrointestinal Tolerance: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 Probiotics May Increase CC-Chemokine Receptor 7 Expression in Infants Treated With for Colic

Efficacy of a standardized extract of Matricariae chamomilla L., Melissa officinalis L. and tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122) in infantile colic: An open randomized controlled trial.

Nutraceuticals and Pain Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interaction in Infants and Children: A Narrative Review and Practical Insights.

Probiotics in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.