Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Reduced Stool Volume

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

Across 3 studies, 1 reported a beneficial small effect of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 on reducing stool volume, while 2 found no significant effect. The predominant effect size across all studies is small, and the evidence is limited to children with functional constipation or acute gastroenteritis, with a median study duration of 56 days (reported in only 1 study).

Studied populations: children with functional constipation

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 larger, higher-quality RCT (n=129, evidence score 7) found no effect, while a smaller RCT (n=56, evidence score 4) found a beneficial effect. The meta-analysis did not explicitly evaluate stool volume. Dose and form were not consistently reported across studies.

Generated Jul 21, 2026

Doses used in studies

CFU/day: 200 million–400 million (median 300 million, IQR 200 million–400 million) — 1 study

Time to effect

Median: 8 weeks · IQR 8 weeks–8 weeks · Range 8 weeks–8 weeks — Reported in 1 of 3 studies

3 of 3 papersPopulation:

The effectiveness of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 as an adjunct to macrogol in the treatment of functional constipation in children. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial.
- 2018-10
- RCT · n = 129
- Clinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology 42(5)
- - Agnieszka Wegner
  - Aleksandra Banaszkiewicz
  - Jaroslaw Kierkus
  - Piotr Landowski
  - Anna Korlatowicz-Bilar
  - Sabina Wiecek
  - Jaroslaw Kwiecien
  - Agnieszka Gawronska
  - Lukasz Dembinski
  - Grazyna Czaja-Bulsa
  - Piotr Socha
- PubMed: 29650440
- DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2018.03.008
7 Insights on
- Reduced Stool Volume
- High evidence
- Large Human Trial
- Clinical
Additionally, there were no significant differences between groups in the numbers of patients complaining of ... large stools (14/46 vs 12/49)...
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for Treating Acute Gastroenteritis in Children. An Update
- 2019-11-14
- Meta-Analysis
- Nutrients 11(11)
- - B. Patro-Gołąb
  - H. Szajewska
- PubMed: 31739457
- DOI: 10.3390/nu11112762
4 Insights on
- Reduced Stool Volume
- High evidence
- Clinical
None of them evaluated stool volume.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Randomised double blind placebo controlled trial on Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938: improvement in symptoms and bowel habit in functional constipation.
- 2018-01-29
- RCT · n = 56
- Beneficial Microbes 9(1)
- - G. Riezzo
  - A. Orlando
  - B. D’Attoma
  - M. Linsalata
  - M. Martulli
  - F. Russo
- PubMed: 29022390
- DOI: 10.3920/BM2017.0049
10 Insights on
- Reduced Stool Volume
- High evidence
the beneficial effect of LR DSM 17938 compared to placebo was significantly evident for symptoms related to gas content and dysbiosis (abdominal discomfort, pain and bloating), incomplete defecation and helps for defecation (P<0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
4×10^8 cfu (induction, days 1-15), then 2×10^8 cfu (maintenance, days 16-105)

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Reduced Stool Volume

The effectiveness of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 as an adjunct to macrogol in the treatment of functional constipation in children. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial.

Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for Treating Acute Gastroenteritis in Children. An Update

Randomised double blind placebo controlled trial on Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938: improvement in symptoms and bowel habit in functional constipation.