Lactobacillus plantarum for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Q: Does Lactobacillus plantarum help with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Based on 5 studies with 800 participants, there is moderate evidence from clinical studies that Lactobacillus plantarum may support Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) management. Our evidence grade is B (Good Evidence).

Q: How much Lactobacillus plantarum should I take for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Studies have used various dosages. A commonly studied range is 10-20 billion CFU/day. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.

Q: Are there side effects of Lactobacillus plantarum?

Reported side effects may include Mild gas and bloating during initial use, Occasional loose stools, Histamine-related symptoms in sensitive individuals (histamine-producing species), Very rare: bacteremia in immunocompromised individuals. Most side effects are mild and dose-dependent. Consult your doctor if you experience any adverse reactions.

Q: How strong is the evidence for Lactobacillus plantarum and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

We rate the evidence as Grade B (Good Evidence). This rating is based on 5 peer-reviewed studies with 800 total participants. The overall direction of effect is positive.

Reduces abdominal pain and bloating in IBS. Multiple RCTs show significant improvement in global IBS symptom scores. Strain-specific evidence for 299v is relatively strong.

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The Bottom Line

Reduces abdominal pain and bloating in IBS. Multiple RCTs show significant improvement in global IBS symptom scores. Strain-specific evidence for 299v is relatively strong.

Key Study Findings

Meta-Analysis n=3154

Comparative effectiveness and safety of probiotics with psychotropic potential in mental health benefits in irritable …

Dose: None vs: placebo Outcome: quality of life, depression, and anxiety in IBS … Effect: SUCRA=89.7% (B. longum for QoL); SUCRA=95.6% (probiotic combo for depression) None

Population: patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Meta-Analysis

Strain-Specific Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Probiotics Efficacy in the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Dose: None vs: placebo Outcome: improvement in key IBS symptoms Effect: None None

Population: patients with IBS from 32 RCTs evaluating 10 probiotic strains

Other n=25 4 weeks

Effect of probiotic administration of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 14917 …

Dose: Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 14917 vs: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) Outcome: visceral hypersensitivity (abdominal withdrawal reflex scores) Effect: None p<0.05

Population: female rats with water avoidance stress-induced IBS-D model

Other n=1098 8 weeks Open-label

A multicenter real-world, open-label study assessing the impact of a probiotic mixture on symptoms of …

Dose: None vs: None (single-arm open-label) Outcome: Treatment success for abdominal pain and bloating Effect: 73% pain, 81.9% bloating success at T1 <0.001

Population: IBS patients from 52 Italian gastroenterologists

Other

Lactobacillus plantarum and Galacto-Oligosaccharides Synbiotic Relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Reshaping Gut Microbiota and Attenuating …

Dose: 1e9 CFU/day + GOS 10 g/L vs: IBS model mice without synbiotic Outcome: IBS symptoms and colonic dysfunction Effect: None <0.05

Population: C. rodentium + WAS IBS mouse model

Randomized Controlled Trial n=61 12 weeks Double-blind

Four-strain probiotic exerts a positive effect on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms occurring in inflammatory bowel …

Dose: None vs: Placebo Outcome: IBS-SSS (100-point reduction) Effect: 45% active vs 33% placebo (P=0.42) P=0.42

Population: IBD patients with IBS symptoms in remission

Key Statistics

Studies

800

Participants

↑

Positive

Grade

Referenced Papers

Strain-Specific Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Probiotics Efficacy in the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Review

Journal of clinical … 2026

Comparative effectiveness and safety of probiotics with psychotropic potential in mental health benefits in irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review … Meta-Analysis

European journal of … 2026

Effect of probiotic administration of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 14917 on metabolic profiles in an … Other

Journal of the … 2026

Lactobacillus plantarum and Galacto-Oligosaccharides Synbiotic Relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Reshaping Gut Microbiota and Attenuating Mast Cell Hyperactivation. Other

Nutrients 2025 6 citations

Four-strain probiotic exerts a positive effect on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms occurring in inflammatory bowel diseases in absence of inflammation … Other

World journal of … 2025 2 citations

Synergistic Modulation of the Gut-Brain-Immune Axis by a Dual Lactobacillus Combination in a Murine IBS Model. Other

Journal of microbiology … 2025 1 citations

A multicenter real-world, open-label study assessing the impact of a probiotic mixture on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in adults. Other

Beneficial microbes 2025

Lactobacillus plantarum AR495 improves colonic transport hyperactivity in irritable bowel syndrome through tryptophan metabolism. Other

Food & function 2024 14 citations

Probiotics plus vitamin D in irritable bowel syndrome: a prospective multicentric non-interventional study. Other

Minerva gastroenterology 2024 4 citations

Efficacy of Quadruple-coated Probiotics in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel-group Study. Other

Journal of neurogastroenterology … 2024 4 citations

ReFerm®: a postbiotic fermented oat gruel composition is reducing mast cell degranulation in the colon of patients with irritable bowel … Other

Frontiers in medicine 2024 2 citations

Laboratory domestication of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum alters some phenotypic traits but causes non-novel genomic impact. Other

Journal of applied … 2024 1 citations

Efficacy of Probiotics in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Meta-Analysis

Gastroenterology 2023 75 citations

Antibiotics and Probiotics for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Review

Drugs 2023 21 citations

Kimchi improves irritable bowel syndrome: results of a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. Other

Food & nutrition … 2022 26 citations

Compositional Changes in the Gut Microbiota of Responders and Non-responders to Probiotic Treatment Among Patients With Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: … Other

Journal of neurogastroenterology … 2022 21 citations

Effect of Oral Intake of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum APsulloc 331261 (GTB1TM) on Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. RCT

Nutrients 2022 20 citations

A postbiotic fermented oat gruel may have a beneficial effect on the colonic mucosal barrier in patients with irritable bowel … Other

Frontiers in nutrition 2022 13 citations

Role of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v versus Placebo in symptomatic improvement of irritable bowel syndrome patients. RCT

JPMA. The Journal … 2022 6 citations

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (LP299V®): three decades of research. Review

Beneficial microbes 2021 69 citations

Lactobacillus plantarum CCFM1143 Alleviates Chronic Diarrhea via Inflammation Regulation and Gut Microbiota Modulation: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. RCT

Frontiers in immunology 2021 67 citations

Adjunctive treatment with probiotics partially alleviates symptoms and reduces inflammation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. RCT

European journal of … 2021 49 citations

The Role of Bifidobacteria in Predictive and Preventive Medicine: A Focus on Eczema and Hypercholesterolemia. Review

Microorganisms 2021 47 citations

Combination of a Probiotic and an Antispasmodic Increases Quality of Life and Reduces Symptoms in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: … RCT

Digestive diseases (Basel, … 2021 28 citations

Evidence from comparative genomic analyses indicating that Lactobacillus-mediated irritable bowel syndrome alleviation is mediated by conjugated linoleic acid synthesis. Other

Food & function 2021 21 citations

Probiotic VSL#3 Treatment Reduces Colonic Permeability and Abdominal Pain Symptoms in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Other

Frontiers in pain … 2021 15 citations

Probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome - is the quest for the right strain over? Rapid review of existing guidelines and … Review

Przeglad gastroenterologiczny 2021 14 citations

The role of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v in supporting treatment of selected diseases. Review

Central-European journal of … 2020 38 citations

Oral Administration of S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and Lactobacillus Plantarum HEAL9 Improves the Mild-To-Moderate Symptoms of Depression: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. RCT

The primary care … 2020 32 citations

The use of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (DSM 9843) in cancer patients receiving home enteral nutrition - study protocol for a … Other

Nutrition journal 2020 28 citations

Effects of 4 weeks of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v supplementation on nutritional status, enteral nutrition tolerance, and quality of life in … RCT

European review for … 2020 21 citations

Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 Ameliorated Visceral Hypersensitivity in Rats Through the Gut-Brain Axis. Other

Probiotics and antimicrobial … 2020 21 citations

Effect of a Preparation of Four Probiotics on Symptoms of Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Association with Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Other

Probiotics and antimicrobial … 2019 43 citations

Technological Methods for Reducing the Content of Fructan in Wheat Bread. Other

Foods (Basel, Switzerland) 2019 21 citations

Abincol® (Lactobacillus plantarum LP01, Lactobacillus lactis subspecies cremoris LLC02, Lactobacillus delbrueckii LDD01), an oral nutraceutical, pragmatic use in patients with … Other

Acta bio-medica : … 2019 6 citations

Lacto-fermented sauerkraut improves symptoms in IBS patients independent of product pasteurisation - a pilot study. RCT

Food & function 2018 77 citations

Probiotics Ameliorate Stool Consistency in Patients with Chronic Constipation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. RCT

Digestive diseases and … 2018 57 citations

Evaluation of the probiotic properties of new Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains and their in vitro effect. Other

Applied microbiology and … 2015 107 citations

Randomized clinical trial: effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 299 v on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. RCT

Nutrition (Burbank, Los … 2014 64 citations

Effect of probiotic species on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: A bring up to date meta-analysis. Meta-Analysis

Revista espanola de … 2013 102 citations

A meta-analysis of probiotic efficacy for gastrointestinal diseases. Meta-Analysis

PloS one 2012 445 citations

Clinical trial: Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (DSM 9843) improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. RCT

World journal of … 2012 277 citations

The effect of a multispecies probiotic mixture on the symptoms and fecal microbiota in diarrhea-dominant irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized, … RCT

Journal of clinical … 2012 207 citations

[Irritable bowel syndrome--irritable bowel or irritable mind?]. Review

Polski merkuriusz lekarski … 2012 8 citations

Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with probiotics. An etiopathogenic approach at last? Review

Revista espanola de … 2009 1 citations

Use of diet and probiotic therapy in the irritable bowel syndrome: analysis of the literature. Review

Journal of clinical … 2005 54 citations

[Probiotics as therapeutic agents in irritable bowel syndrome]. Meta-Analysis

Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie 2005 17 citations

Probiotics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. RCT

Journal of clinical … 2004 205 citations

An in vitro assessment of the effects of broad-spectrum antibiotics on the human gut microflora and concomitant isolation of a … Other

Anaerobe 2004 40 citations

Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v on colonic fermentation and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Other

Digestive diseases and … 2002 250 citations

Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Other

Current treatment options … 2002 5 citations

A controlled, double-blind, randomized study on the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum 299V in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. RCT

European journal of … 2001 518 citations

Alteration of intestinal microflora is associated with reduction in abdominal bloating and pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. RCT

The American journal … 2000 648 citations

Dosage & Usage

mg = milligrams · mcg = micrograms (1,000× smaller) · IU = International Units

Commonly Used Dosages

general:: 10-20 billion CFU/day
ibssupport:: 10 billion CFU/day (299v strain) for 4 weeks minimum

Upper limit: Well-tolerated up to 20 billion CFU/day in clinical trials

Dosages Studied in Research

Dosage	Duration	Effect	N
None	--	Positive	3154
None	--	Positive	--
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 14917	4 weeks	Positive	25
None	8 weeks	Positive	1098
1e9 CFU/day + GOS 10 g/L	--	Positive	--
None	12 weeks	Neutral	61
None	--	Positive	--
None	--	Positive	--

Best taken: On an empty stomach or before meals

Safety & Side Effects

Reported Side Effects

⚠ Mild gas and bloating during initial use
⚠ Occasional loose stools
⚠ Histamine-related symptoms in sensitive individuals (histamine-producing species)
⚠ Very rare: bacteremia in immunocompromised individuals

Known Interactions

● Antibiotics (may reduce probiotic viability; space dosing 2 hours apart)
● Immunosuppressants (theoretical risk in immunocompromised patients)
● Histamine-intolerance medications (L. plantarum may produce biogenic amines)

Tolerable upper intake: Well-tolerated up to 20 billion CFU/day in clinical trials

Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Lactobacillus plantarum help with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Based on 5 studies with 800 participants, there is moderate evidence from clinical studies that Lactobacillus plantarum may support Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) management. Our evidence grade is B (Good Evidence).

How much Lactobacillus plantarum should I take for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Studies have used various dosages. A commonly studied range is 10-20 billion CFU/day. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.

Are there side effects of Lactobacillus plantarum?

Reported side effects may include Mild gas and bloating during initial use, Occasional loose stools, Histamine-related symptoms in sensitive individuals (histamine-producing species), Very rare: bacteremia in immunocompromised individuals. Most side effects are mild and dose-dependent. Consult your doctor if you experience any adverse reactions.

How strong is the evidence for Lactobacillus plantarum and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

We rate the evidence as Grade B (Good Evidence). This rating is based on 5 peer-reviewed studies with 800 total participants. The overall direction of effect is positive.

Related Evidence

Other ingredients for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Peppermint Oil A Psyllium Husk B Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG B Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum (PHGG) B Bifidobacterium longum B Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) B

Quick Verdict

Reduces abdominal pain and bloating in IBS. Multiple RCTs show significant improvement in global IBS symptom scores. Strain-specific evidence for 299v is relatively strong.

Evidence Strength72%

High confidence

Study Breakdown

RCT (15)Meta (5)Other (0)

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FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products and information on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The evidence grades presented are based on our analysis of published peer-reviewed research and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.