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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
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Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Reduced Duration of Diarrhea

Research synthesisModerate evidenceMixed effect size5 studies · 5 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 5 studies, all reported beneficial effects of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 on reducing diarrhea duration, with effect sizes ranging from small to large (mixed). Four of the five studies were statistically significant. The most common dose was approximately 10^8 CFU per day, and the evidence primarily comes from pediatric populations, including children with acute diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and healthy daycare attendees.

  • Effective dose range: 10^8 CFU per day (1×10^8 to 2×10^8 CFU)
  • Studied populations: Children (pediatric populations), including those with acute diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and healthy daycare attendees

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). Additionally, the highest-quality trial (evidence score 7) found only a small effect, while smaller studies reported larger effects, suggesting the true effect may be modest. The evidence is limited to pediatric populations; generalizability to adults is unknown.

Generated Jul 21, 2026
Doses used in studies
  • CFU/day: 100 million–2 billion (median 150 million, IQR 100 million–650 million) — 4 studies
  • CFU single-dose: 100 million (median 100 million, IQR 100 million–100 million) — 1 study
Safety in these studies
5 of 5 papers
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