Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Reduced Diarrhea

Research synthesisLow evidenceSmall effect3 studies · 1 beneficial · 2 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, 1 reported a beneficial moderate-sized effect on reducing diarrhea symptoms in children with acute diarrhoea, while 2 found neutral effects in healthy children. The predominant effect size across all studies is small. The most-studied population is children (2–5 years and 6–36 months), but the evidence is limited and inconsistent.

Effective dose range: 4 × 10^8 colony-forming units/day
Studied populations: children with acute diarrhoea (6–36 months), healthy children (2–5 years)

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Many of the included studies did not reach statistical significance — effect may be smaller than the predominant direction suggests. The single beneficial study was conducted in hospitalized children with acute diarrhoea, so results may not generalize to healthy populations or community settings.

Generated Jun 21, 2026

Doses used in studies

CFU/day: 400 million (median 400 million, IQR 400 million–400 million) — 1 study

Safety in these studies

Overall tolerabilityNo significant difference
No differences in objective data on adverse events were noted
from: Safety of Lactobacillus Reuteri DSM 17938 in Healthy Children 2-5 Years of Age.
Overall tolerabilityNo significant difference
No differences in objective data on adverse events were noted
from: Safety of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in Healthy Children 2 to 5 Years of Age.
Overall tolerabilityReported
No adverse events were recorded.
from: Randomised clinical trial: Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 vs. placebo in children with ac
diarrheaReported
some differences based on subjective parental reports for fever and diarrhea were seen
from: Safety of Lactobacillus Reuteri DSM 17938 in Healthy Children 2-5 Years of Age.
diarrheaReported
some differences based on subjective parental reports for fever and diarrhea were seen
from: Safety of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in Healthy Children 2 to 5 Years of Age.
feverReported
some differences based on subjective parental reports for fever and diarrhea were seen
from: Safety of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in Healthy Children 2 to 5 Years of Age.
feverReported
some differences based on subjective parental reports for fever and diarrhea were seen
from: Safety of Lactobacillus Reuteri DSM 17938 in Healthy Children 2-5 Years of Age.

3 of 3 papersPopulation:

Safety of Lactobacillus Reuteri DSM 17938 in Healthy Children 2-5 Years of Age.
- 2019-08
- RCT · n = 60
- The Pediatric infectious disease journal 38(8)
- - Margaret N Kosek
  - Pablo Peñataro-Yori
  - Maribel Paredes-Olortegui
  - John Lefante
  - Cesar Ramal-Asayag
  - Marcelo Zamora-Babilonia
  - Graciela Meza-Sanchez
  - Richard A Oberhelman
- PubMed: 30531312
- DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000002267
2 Insights on
- Reduced Diarrhea
- High evidence
- Children
although some differences based on subjective parental reports for fever and diarrhea were seen
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Randomised clinical trial: Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 vs. placebo in children with acute diarrhoea--a double-blind study.
- 2012-06-11
- RCT
- Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics 36(4)
- - R Francavilla
  - E Lionetti
  - S Castellaneta
  - F Ciruzzi
  - F Indrio
  - A Masciale
  - C Fontana
  - M M La Rosa
  - L Cavallo
  - A Francavilla
- PubMed: 22680836
- DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2012.05180.x
4 Insights on
- Reduced Diarrhea
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
- Clinical
on day two and three of treatment watery diarrhoea persisted in 82% and 74% of the placebo and 55% and 45% of the L. reuteri recipients respectively (P < 0.01; P < 0.03)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Dose
4 × 10^8 colony-forming units/day
Safety of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in Healthy Children 2 to 5 Years of Age.
- 2019-08
- RCT · n = 60
- Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 38(8)
- - M. Kosek
  - Pablo Peñataro-Yori
  - Maribel Paredes-Olórtegui
  - J. Lefante
  - César Ramal-Asayag
  - Marcelo Zamora-Babilonia
  - Graciela Meza-Sánchez
  - R. Oberhelman
- PubMed: 30531312
- DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002267
4 Insights on
- Reduced Diarrhea
- High evidence
some differences based on subjective parental reports for fever and diarrhea were seen
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Reduced Diarrhea

Safety of Lactobacillus Reuteri DSM 17938 in Healthy Children 2-5 Years of Age.

Randomised clinical trial: Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 vs. placebo in children with acute diarrhoea--a double-blind study.

Safety of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in Healthy Children 2 to 5 Years of Age.