Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 and Reduced Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Research synthesisModerate evidenceModerate effect4 studies · 4 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across all 4 studies, 4 reported beneficial effects of Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 on reducing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) prevalence, with a predominant effect size of moderate. Statistically significant findings were observed in 2 out of 4 studies (both meta-analyses), reporting risk reductions of 48% (RR 0.52, P=0.003) and 29% (RR 0.71, P=0.03). All studies examined pregnant women, but none specified a dose of the specific strain.

Studied populations: pregnant women

Caveats: All studies reviewed probiotics broadly rather than specifically isolating Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118, making it unclear whether effects are attributable to this particular strain. The two largest analyses included multiple probiotic formulations, and no study reported the dose of UCC118 specifically. The lowest-quality study (evidence score 1) was a narrative review and contributed no independent data.

Generated May 10, 2026

4 of 4 papers

The effect of probiotics on gestational diabetes and its complications in pregnant mother and newborn: A systematic review and meta-analysis during 2010-2020.
- 2022-03-03
- Meta-Analysis · n = 4,865
- Journal of clinical laboratory analysis 36(4)
- - Marzie Mahdizade Ari
  - Samane Teymouri
  - Tayebeh Fazlalian
  - Parisa Asadollahi
  - Roghayeh Afifirad
  - Mohammad Sabaghan
  - Fateme Valizadeh
  - Roya Ghanavati
  - Atieh Darbandi
- PubMed: 35243684
- DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24326
1 Insight on
- Reduced Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
- High evidence
The present meta-analysis showed that the consumption of probiotics supplementation has the potential to decrease GD-predisposing metabolic parameters such as blood glucose level, lipid profile, inflammation, and oxidative markers which may reduce GD occurrence among pregnant women.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Probiotics improve glucose and lipid metabolism in pregnant women: a meta-analysis.
- 2019-03
- Meta-Analysis · n = 139
- Annals of translational medicine 7(5)
- - Man-Man Han
  - Jin-Fang Sun
  - Xiang-Hui Su
  - You-Fan Peng
  - Hemant Goyal
  - Chun-Hua Wu
  - Xiang-Yun Zhu
  - Ling Li
- PubMed: 31019949
- DOI: 10.21037/atm.2019.01.61
4 Insights on
- Reduced Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
- High evidence
The study found a significant effect of probiotics on decreasing the risk of GDM [risk ratio (RR) 0.52, P=0.003) in early pregnancy.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Probiotics for the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- 2024-09-06
- Meta-Analysis
- Biomolecules & biomedicine 24(5)
- - Xue Li
  - Luwen Zhang
  - Yuanqi He
  - Dandan Zhang
  - Shihong Zhang
- PubMed: 38642385
- DOI: 10.17305/bb.2024.10377
1 Insight on
- Reduced Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
- High evidence
probiotics significantly reduced the incidence of GDM as compared to control (risk ratio [RR]: 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.52-0.96, P = 0.03)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Efficacy of dietary supplements targeting gut microbiota in the prevention and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus.
- 2022-07-14
- Review
- Frontiers in microbiology 13
- - Jiayang Wan
  - Jingmei Ma
- PubMed: 35910625
- DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.927883
2 Insights on
- Reduced Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
- Low evidence
This paper reviews a series of clinical trials in recent years, expounds on the clinical effects of dietary supplements such as probiotics on GDM... using dietary supplements, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics to target the gut microbiota to regulate the disordered gut microbiota would become a potential method that benefits for preventing and treating GDM.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small

Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 and Reduced Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

The effect of probiotics on gestational diabetes and its complications in pregnant mother and newborn: A systematic review and meta-analysis during 2010-2020.

Probiotics improve glucose and lipid metabolism in pregnant women: a meta-analysis.

Probiotics for the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Efficacy of dietary supplements targeting gut microbiota in the prevention and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus.