By Regina C. Windsor, MPH, RDN 

 Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Barnes, RDN

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum, formerly called Lactobacillus plantarum) is a probiotic bacterium with many different strains (types).

L. plantarum can be found in the following products:

  • Fermented foods and beverages

  • Over-the-counter (OTC) probiotic supplements

Researchers have also observed L. plantarum in the body's mucous membranes, saliva, and digestive tract (gut).12

This article describes the uses, potential benefits, and safety of L. plantarum.

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Fermented Foods and Beverages

A vibrant history of fermented foods and beverages exists from around the globe. L. plantarum can be found in fermented foods and beverages such as the following:

  • Brined olives

  • Fermented sausages like chouriço (a Portuguese sausage)

  • Fermented soy milk

  • Fufu (fermented cassava from West Africa)

  • Korean kimchi

  • Ogi (fermented pudding made in Nigeria from ground grains)

  • Pickles

  • Raw sourdough (note, L. plantarum mostly can't survive the high temperatures of baking)

  • Sataw-Dong (a traditional fermented sticky bean product in southern Thailand)

  • Sauerkraut

  • Some cheeses

  • Stockfish (dried, unsalted fish, including cod)

  • Tofu

  • Uji (fermented pudding made in Kenya from ground grains)3

There are many more fermented fruits and vegetables than what is listed here.

Finding new recipes, learning more about the rich cultures they come from, and taste-testing to see which ones you like can be a fun way to continue to support your health.

The Research

Supplement use should be individualized and vetted by a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), pharmacist, or healthcare provider. No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.

There is significant interest in the microbiome (all the microorganisms living in your body). Researchers have drawn connections between the gut microbiome and nervous system health.4

Studies have found links in how changing your body's microbe balance can influence your health.45 L. plantarum impacts the microbiome and beyond. It has been studied for the following conditions:

  • Anxiety: L. plantarum in adults showed moderate benefits for anxiety.67 One study researched using L. plantarum strain P8 daily for 12 weeks.6 Another study used 1 billion colony-forming units (CFU) of L. plantarum DR7 strain taken daily for 12 weeks.7

  • Anxiety and behavior manifestations in autism spectrum disorder (ASD): One study in male children (7 to 15 years old) decreased specific behaviors.8 The study used 30 billion CFU of the PS128 strain daily for four weeks.

  • Atopic dermatitis: A study in children (12 months to 13 years) using 5 billion CFU of the CJLP133 strain daily for 12 weeks benefitted SCOring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) scores.9

  • Blood sugar control: Studies showed lower HBA1c levels (average blood sugar levels taken over three months) in people with prediabetes. One study researched 4 billion CFUs of the L. plantarum strain HAC01 for eight weeks.10 Another used yogurt with more than 5 billion CFU of the OLL2712 strain daily for 12 weeks.11

  • Depression and sleep quality: One study showed improvements in depression and sleep quality using 30 billion CFU of the PS128 strain for 30 days.12

  • High blood pressure (hypertension): One study showed a minimal benefit that wasn't considered clinically significant.13

  • Inflammation: A meta-analysis (collection of studies) suggested L. plantarum positively impacts inflammation in the body.14 One study using up to 90 billion CFU daily L. plantarum TWK10 strain daily for six weeks noted enhanced athletic performance and improved body composition in the participants taking this amount.15 Researchers thought this may be related to its ability to reduce inflammation.

  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis): A study found statistically and clinically significant benefits on IBD symptoms using a combination product with water, fermented oats, barley malt, lecithin, and L. plantarum 299v for eight weeks.16 However, it's challenging to know the effect of L. plantarum alone.

  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): One study suggested benefits for bowel frequency and stool consistency (Bristol score) using 3.52 billion CFU daily of the CCFM1143 strain.17 Another study used 10 billion CFU of the 299v strain for four weeks with significant benefit.18 However, another using the 299v strain did not help IBS symptoms.19

As with any natural remedy or dietary supplement, L. plantarum should not be used as a substitute for standard care. More studies are needed to confirm these results.

Speak with your healthcare provider if you have questions about your health.

Side Effects and Safety Concerns

Some individuals have experienced side effects from L. plantarum, including gas and bloating.20

In the following cases, avoid taking L. plantarum until discussing it further with your healthcare provider:

  • People with weakened or impaired immune systems

  • Premature infants2021

There has also been interest in how the gut microbiome impacts the body's use of certain medications and how medications impact the microbiome.22

Antibiotics, while helpful, can reduce both bad and good microbes in the body.

However, a review suggested following nonantibiotic medicines also impact levels of Lactobacillus species in the body:

  • ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors

  • Opioids

  • Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)

  • Tricyclic antidepressants (reduced Lactobacillus levels)22

Some supplements risk being contaminated. Seek products that mention "current good manufacturing practices" (CGMP) on the label.

Dietary supplements are not regulated the same way prescription medications are in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve them for safety and effectiveness before products are marketed. Choose a supplement tested by a trusted third party, such as the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), ConsumerLab.com, or NSF.org, whenever possible.

However, even if supplements are third-party tested, they are not necessarily safe for all or effective in general. Therefore, talking to your healthcare provider about any supplements you plan to take and asking about potential interactions with other supplements or medications is essential.

Summary

Research suggests L. plantarum may offer some health benefits. However, more, extensive clinical trials are needed to confirm results. To boost your intake of L. plantarum from foods, look into fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi.

If you're considering taking L. plantarum in supplement form, speak with your healthcare provider to ensure it's the right option.

Sources

Arasu MV, Al-Dhabi NA, Ilavenil S, et al. In vitro importance of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum related to medical field. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2016;23(1):S6-S10. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2015.09.022

Silva-Bea S, Francisco-Tomé M, Cabrera-Alvargonzález JJ, et al. In vivo monitoring of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in the nasal and vaginal mucosa using infrared fluorescence. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2022;106(18):6239-6251. doi:10.1007/s00253-022-12121-8

Behera SS, Ray RC, Zdolec N. Lactobacillus plantarum with functional properties: An approach to increase safety and shelf-life of fermented foods. Biomed Res Int. 2018;2018:9361614. doi:10.1155/2018/9361614

Mayer EA, Nance K, Chen S. The gut-brain axis. Annu Rev Med. 2022;73:439-453. doi:10.1146/annurev-med-042320-014032

Osadchiy V, Martin CR, Mayer EA. The gut-brain axis and the microbiome: mechanisms and clinical implications. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;17(2):322-332. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.10.002

Lew LC, Hor YY, Yusoff NAA, et al. Probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum P8 alleviated stress and anxiety while enhancing memory and cognition in stressed adults: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Clin Nutr. 2019;38(5):2053-2064. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.09.010

Chong HX, Yusoff NAA, Hor YY, et al. Lactobacillus plantarum DR7 alleviates stress and anxiety in adults: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Benef Microbes. 2019;10(4):355-373. doi:10.3920/BM2018.0135

Liu YW, Liong MT, Chung YE, et al. Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 on children with autism spectrum disorder in Taiwan: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrients. 2019;11(4):820. doi:10.3390/nu11040820

Han Y, Kim B, Ban J, et al. A randomized trial of CJLP133 for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2012;23(7):667-73. doi:10.1111/pai.12010

Oh MR, Jang HY, Lee SY, et al. Lactobacillus plantarum hac01 supplementation improves glycemic control in prediabetic subjects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrients. 2021;13(7):2337. doi:10.3390/nu13072337

Toshimitsu T, Gotou A, Sashihara T, et al. Effects of 12-week ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus plantarum Oll2712 on glucose metabolism and chronic inflammation in prediabetic adults: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Nutrients. 2020;12(2):374. doi:10.3390/nu12020374

Ho YT, Tsai YC, Kuo TBJ, Yang CCH. Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 on depressive symptoms and sleep quality in self-reported insomniacs: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial. Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2820. doi:10.3390/nu13082820

Lewis-Mikhael AM, Davoodvandi A, Jafarnejad S. Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum containing probiotics on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pharmacol Res. 2020;153:104663. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104663

Zhao W, Peng C, Sakandar HA, et al. Meta-analysis: Randomized trials of Lactobacillus plantarum on immune regulation over the last decades. Front Immunol. 2021;12:643420. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.643420

Huang W, Lee M, Lee C, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 on exercise physiological adaptation, performance, and body composition in healthy humans. Nutrients. 2019;11(11):2836-. doi:10.3390/nu11112836

Krag A, Munkholm P, Israelsen H, et al. Profermin is efficacious in patients with active ulcerative colitis--a randomized controlled trial. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2013;19(12):2584-2592. doi:10.1097/01.MIB.0000437046.26036.db

Yang B, Yue Y, Chen Y, et al. Lactobacillus plantarum CCFM1143 alleviates chronic diarrhea via inflammation regulation and gut microbiota modulation: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Front Immunol. 2021;12:746585. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.746585

Ducrotté, P. Clinical trial: lactobacillus plantarum 299v (DSM 9843) improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. WJG. 2012;18(30):4012-. doi:10.3748/wjg.v18.i30.4012

Stevenson C, Blaauw R, Fredericks E, et al. Randomized clinical trial: effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 299 v on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Nutrition. 2014;30(10):1151-1157. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2014.02.010

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Probiotics: what you need to know.

Rahman A, Alqaisi S, Nath J. A case of Lactobacillus casei endocarditis associated with probiotic intake in an immunocompromised patient. Cureus. 2023;15(4):e38049. doi:10.7759/cureus.38049

Weersma RK, Zhernakova A, Fu J. Interaction between drugs and the gut microbiome. Gut. 2020;69(8):1510-1519. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-320204

Yilmaz B, Bangar SP, Echegaray N, et al. The impacts of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on the functional properties of fermented foods: A review of current knowledge. Microorganisms. 2022;10(4):826. doi:10.3390/microorganisms10040826

Additional Reading

Lew L, Hor Y, Yusoff NAA, et al. Probiotic lactobacillus plantarum P8 alleviated stress and anxiety while enhancing memory and cognition in stressed adults: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Clinical Nutrition. 2019;38(5):2053-2064.

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By Regina C. Windsor, MPH, RDN
Regina Windsor, MPH, RDN, is an editor for Verywell Health. Her expertise includes population health, data analysis and synthesis, nutrition and dietetics, publishing, and education. She is a systems-oriented thinker with a passion for exploration and authentic connection.