Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Reduced Vomiting Frequency

Research synthesisModerate evidenceSmall effect3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, all reported beneficial small-sized effects of *Lactobacillus reuteri* DSM 17938 on reducing vomiting frequency in infants, with all three reaching statistical significance. The evidence is strongest in healthy and breastfed full-term infants, with one small RCT using a dose of 5 drops daily (10^8 CFU) for 4 weeks. Effect sizes were consistently small across all studies.

Effective dose range: 5 drops daily (10^8 colony-forming units)
Studied populations: Healthy infants, breastfed full-term infants, preterm infants

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. 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). One study was observational and two had small sample sizes. Study durations were not consistently reported, limiting assessment of long-term effects.

Generated Jun 13, 2026

Doses used in studies

drops/day: 5 (median 5, IQR 5–5) — 1 study

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
gastrointestinal painNo significant difference
three neonates in the placebo group only needed simethicone for GI pain
from: The early administration of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 controls regurgitation episode
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
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
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

3 of 3 papersPopulation:

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 Vomiting Frequency
- 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
The early administration of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 controls regurgitation episodes in full-term breastfed infants
- 2014-03-17
- RCT · n = 40
- International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 65(5)
- - F. Garofoli
  - E. Civardi
  - F. Indrio
  - I. Mazzucchelli
  - Micol Angelini
  - C. Tinelli
  - M. Stronati
- PubMed: 24635827
- DOI: 10.3109/09637486.2014.898251
3 Insights on
- Reduced Vomiting Frequency
- High evidence
Treated infants demonstrated a reduction in daily regurgitations at the end of treatment (p = 0.02)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
5 drops/daily (10^8 colony-forming units) for 4 weeks
Therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 on feeding intolerance in preterm infants.
- 2023-02-04
- Observational · n = 56
- Archives of medical science : AMS 21(6)
- - Xuran Li
  - Meng Xing
  - Yinzhu Zhang
  - Ming Yang
- PubMed: 41684579
- DOI: 10.5114/aoms/159991
4 Insights on
- Reduced Vomiting Frequency
- Moderate evidence
The duration of vomiting at a gestational age of > 28 weeks was also significantly different from that of scheme A.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Reduced Vomiting Frequency

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

The early administration of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 controls regurgitation episodes in full-term breastfed infants

Therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 on feeding intolerance in preterm infants.