Research synthesisLow evidenceModerate effect4 studies · 4 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful
Across 4 studies, all reported beneficial effects of Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 on improved glucose metabolism, with moderate effect sizes in the two highest-quality meta-analyses. The evidence primarily comes from pregnant women, particularly those with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and effects were observed as reductions in fasting blood glucose, insulin levels, and HOMA-IR. Dose and duration data were not consistently reported.
- Studied populations: pregnant women, women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), overweight/obese pregnant women
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). Evidence base is small (only 4 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Only two studies reported statistically significant findings; the other two did not report significance, so the effect may be less robust than the direction suggests. Most studies are meta-analyses that pooled data from multiple trials but did not isolate Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 specifically, limiting specificity.
Generated May 12, 2026