A list of probiotics types, their benefits and their source products found in the market.

Probiotics are living microorganisms (bacteria) that when consumed are suggested to give health benefits to the human host. Before coining the term 'probiotics',  use of probiotics in food products, e.g., fermented milk products, is an old practice.

First scientific records of observations of their use dates back to the 1800's. Identification of probiotic bacteria types and understanding of their benefits and mechanisms, however, is a recent trend and an actively growing endevour.

Regarding the claims of health benefits of probiotics, there are some studies that show evidence supporting the benefits and there are other studies that find no evidence of the claimed health benefits.

There is now an increasing number of probiotics food sources and products in grocery stores that are marketed for prevention and treatment of various ailements. The probiotics products include food, like yoghurt, cheese, nutritional bars. They are also marketed in cosmetic products and pills.

A recent publication, in the journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases, by a researcher at the University of Washington, Seattle, summarises some of the probiotics types, their benefits and in what products they are found in the market. The summary is based on review of 420 published trials conducted in the last 40 years.

Probiotic typeProduct sourceBrand Name (Manufacturer)Benefits for
Single probiotic types
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis DN-173010 Yogurt Activia (Danone) Constipation
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bb-12 Capsules, powder in sticks, fermented milk BB-12 (Chr Hansen) Eczema
Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 Drink, capsules Align (Procter & Gamble) irritable bowel syndrome
Clostridium butyricum 588 Tablets, drink MIYA-BM (Miyarisan Pharm) antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Helicobacter pylori infection
Enterococcus faecium SF 68 Powder, sachets Bioflorin (Cerbios-Pharma) Acute adult diarrhea
Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 Capsules Mutaflor (Ardeypharm) No trends
Lactobacillus acidophilus Lb Sachets, capsules Lacteol (PUMC Pharm) Acute pediatric diarrhea
Lactobacillus casei subsp Shirota Fermented milk Yakult (Yakult) Constipation, Helicobacter pylori infection
Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 Fermented drink, yogurt Actimel, DanActive (Danone) antibiotic-associated diarrhea, prevention of pediatric diarrhea, respiratory infections
Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35 Vaginal capsules Gynophilus bacterial vaginosis
Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 Milk NC1 (Nestle) Helicobacter pylori infections
Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (DSM9843) Fermented oat gruel in fruit drink, capsules ProViva (Probi)
Darolac-irritable bowel syndrome (Araisto)
irritable bowel syndrome, Clostridium difficile infection
Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 Capsules, yogurt Protectis (BioGaia) Acute pediatric diarrhea, cholesterol
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53013) Yogurt, capsules Culturelle (Amerifit Brands)
Vifit (Valio)
Acute pediatric diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 (lyo) Capsules Florastor, Codex, UltraLevure (Biocodex) antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Clostridium difficile infection, acute adult and pediatric diarrhea, traveler's diarrhea, Helicobacter pylori infections
Mixtures of probiotic bacteria
Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285 +
Lactobacillus casei Lbc80r + Lactobacillus rhamnosus CLR2
Fermented drink, capsules Bio K+ (BioK+ Intl) antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Clostridium difficile infection
Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 (CNCM I-1722) +
Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011 (CNCM I-1720)
Capsules, sachets Lacidofil (Lallemand)
A'Biotica (Institut Rosell)
Helicobacter pylori infection, antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Lactobacillus helveticus (bulgaricus) 4962 + Lactobacillus acidophilus Capsules Lactinex
(BD Diagnostics)
Acute adult diarrhea
Lactobacillus reuteri DSM17938 + Lactobacillus reuteri PTA5289 Lozenges, powder, capsules Prodentis (BioGaia) Dental infections
Lactobacillus acidophilus + Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Yogurt AB Yogurt Improves normal flora
Lactobacillus acidophilus + Bifidobacterium bifidum Capsules Infloran Berna (Intituo Sieroterapico) Respiratory tract infections
Lactobacillus acidophilus subsp gasseri + Bifidobacterium infantis Capsules Linex (Sandoz) antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Bacillus clausii (4 strains: O/C, N/R84, T84, Sin8) Capsules, spores in vial Enterogermina (Sanofi-Aventis) Antidiarrheal
Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus Sachets VSL#3 (Sigma-Tau Pharm Inc) irritable bowel syndrome
ulcerative colitis

 

Source:

Lynne V. McFarland (2015). From Yaks to Yogurt: The History, Development, and Current Use of Probiotics. Clinical Infectious Diseases, Vol. 60(Issue suppl 2):S85-S90.

Jotham Suez, Niv Zmora, Eran Segal & Eran Elinav (2019). The pros, cons, and many unknowns of probiotics. Nature Medicine 25, 716–729.