Lactobacillus Rhamnosus

Lactobacillus rhamnosus

Lactobacillus rhamnosus is a bacterium that exists naturally in the intestines and female genito-urinary tract. It has been used as a probiotic (beneficial bacteria) to prevent the growth of bad bacteria in the digestive tract. Once Lactobacillus rhamnosus is broken down in your body, it releases certain chemicals that help eradicate disease-causing bacteria. Increasing your dietary intake of yogurt and dairy products along with Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplements, can help restore the delicate balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut.

Benefits of Lactobacillus rhamnosus

Loading up on Lactobacillus rhamnosus can provide you with a lot of health benefits that are supported by strong scientific evidence. Among them are the following:

Helps Achieve Sustainable Weight Loss

Increasing your intake of Lactobacillus rhamnosus can help boost your weight loss efforts. Results from one clinical trial show that Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724 supplementation in obese women over a 24-week period caused significant reductions in fat mass and circulating levels of leptin (a hormone that inhibits hunger).^[1] The mean weight loss in the Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724­-treated group was significantly higher than that in the placebo group.

Improves Liver Function

In one study assessing the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus in patients with type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, researchers found an improvement in the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipid profile, as well as reduction in metabolic stress, indicating an improvement in the liver function and metabolic parameters.^[2]

Treats Gastrointestinal Problems

Results from a meta-analysis of 12 clinical trials show the many benefits of Lactobacillus rhamnosus on the gastrointestinal tract.^[3] According to the study, supplementation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, a strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, in children and adults treated with antibiotics reduced the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections, and reduced the length of hospital stay.

Improves Dental Health

One study found that long-term consumption of milk and yogurt containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus reduces the development of tooth decay or cavities.^[4] A similar study found that patients who consumed yogurt, milk and lozenges containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG reduced their oral counts of Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium correlated with caries formation.^[5]

Improves Respiratory Health

Researchers have investigated the effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG consumption on respiratory health. For instance, one study found that patients who consumed fermented milk containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG reduced their risk for respiratory tract infections.^[6] Furthermore, capsulated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG was shown to protect hospitalized patients against ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.^[7]

Fights Allergies

Lactobacillus rhamnosus can help regulate normal immune response and ward off allergic reaction. In milk-hypersensitive adults, researchers found that Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplementation reduced the immunoinflammatory response, thereby improving allergy symptoms and quality of life.^[8]

References:

1. Sanchez M, Darimont C, Drapeau V, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724 supplementation on weight loss and maintenance in obese men and women. Br J Nutr. 2014;111(8):1507-19.
2. Sáez-Lara MJ, Robles-Sanchez C, Ruiz-Ojeda FJ, Plaza-Diaz J, Gil A. Effects of Probiotics and Synbiotics on Obesity, Insulin Resistance Syndrome, Type 2 Diabetes and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Review of Human Clinical Trials. Cifuentes A, ed. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2016;17(6):928. doi:10.3390/ijms17060928.
3. Szajewska H, Kołodziej M. Systematic review with meta-analysis: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in children and adults. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2015;42(10):1149-57.
4. Segers ME, Lebeer S. Towards a better understanding of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG – host interactions. Microbial Cell Factories. 2014;13(Suppl 1):S7. doi:10.1186/1475-2859-13-S1-S7.
5. Nase L, Hatakka K, Savilahti E, Saxelin M, Ponka A, Poussa T, Korpela R, Meurman JH. Effect of long-term consumption of a probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, in milk on dental caries and caries risk in children. Caries Res. 2001;35:412–420. doi: 10.1159/000047484.
6. Luoto R, Ruuskanen O, Waris M, Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Isolauri E. Prebiotic and probiotic supplementation prevents rhinovirus infections in preterm infants: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013.
7. Morrow LE, Kollef MH, Casale TB. Probiotic prophylaxis of ventilator-associated pneumonia: a blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010;182:1058–1064. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200912-1853OC.
8. Pelto L, Isolauri E, Lilius EM, Nuutila J, Salminen S. Probiotic bacteria down- regulate the milk-induced inflammatory response in milk-hypersensitive subjects but have an immunostimulatory effect in healthy subjects. Clin Exp Allergy. 1998;28:1474–1479. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1998.00449.x.