Does Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG lower C-reactive protein (CRP)?
A user asks whether Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG helps reduce inflammation, specifically C-reactive protein levels. The assistant explains that evidence shows no significant effect on hs-CRP, but the probiotic may reduce other inflammatory markers like intestinal inflammation (calprotectin).
Does taking Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG actually help lower inflammation, like C-reactive protein levels?
Great question! Let me break down what the research shows.
Does Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Reduce C-Reactive Protein (CRP)?
According to Pillser's research database, the answer is nuanced:
For high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) specifically, the evidence is neutral. Across 2 studies looking at hs-CRP levels, neither study found a statistically significant reduction1. So based on the available data, L. rhamnosus GG does not appear to meaningfully lower CRP levels.
However, that's not the whole story. The same probiotic strain has shown beneficial effects on other inflammation markers:
- Reduced Inflammation (general) – 2 out of 2 studies reported beneficial effects1.
- Reduced Intestinal Inflammation – 2 out of 2 studies found it helpful, including reductions in faecal calprotectin (a marker of gut inflammation)1.
What This Means
It's possible that L. rhamnosus GG reduces inflammation through pathways other than CRP. For example, it may lower intestinal inflammatory markers like calprotectin, even if it doesn't budge systemic CRP levels. This pattern isn't unusual — different probiotics affect different inflammatory pathways.
Bottom line: For specifically lowering C-reactive protein, the current evidence doesn't support L. rhamnosus GG as effective. But for other inflammatory markers, particularly those related to gut health, it may still be beneficial.
Would you like me to look into other probiotics or supplements that have more solid evidence for reducing CRP?
Footnotes
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Pillser research database, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. ↩ ↩2 ↩3