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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
B. infantis 35624 vs B. lactis (BB-12 / HN019): B. lactis (BB-12 / HN019) has the stronger overall evidence (6 vs 5/10); they're alternatives for improve digestion — the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
B. lactis (BB-12 / HN019) wins 2 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
Shared outcomes (1)
Outcomes where both B. infantis 35624 and B. lactis (BB-12 / HN019) have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
1 x 10^8 CFU (100 million) daily — the dose that won the only head-to-head dose comparison; 1 x 10^10 CFU also beat placebo in a separate trial, so higher doses are not ruled out
any
Freeze-dried capsule standardized to 35624 at 1 x 10^8 CFU
1-10 billion CFU daily for BB-12 (1 billion is enough); 10-20 billion CFU daily for HN019 if transit is the goal
any
Capsule or sachet standardized to a named strain (BB-12 or HN019)
4 weeks
4 weeks
n/a
n/a
2 weeks
4 weeks
n/a
n/a
Efficacy of an encapsulated probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 in women with irritable bowel syndrome.
Am J Gastroenterol (2006) · Rct · n=362
1 x 10^8 CFU significantly superior to placebo AND to all other doses for the primary endpoint of abdominal pain
Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in irritable bowel syndrome: symptom responses and relationship to cytokine profiles.
Gastroenterology (2005) · Rct · n=77
Beat placebo on composite score and on abdominal pain, bloating/distention and bowel-movement difficulty for most treatment weeks
Efficacy of Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis.
Curr Med Res Opin (2017) · Meta analysis
Single-strain 35624 had no effect on abdominal pain, bloating/distention, or bowel-habit satisfaction
Dose-response effect of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 on whole gut transit time and functional gastrointestinal symptoms in adults.
Scand J Gastroenterol (2011) · Rct · n=100
Whole-gut transit fell 49 to 21 hours on high dose (p<0.001) and 60 to 41 hours on low dose (p=0.01); placebo unchanged
Eight-Week Supplementation With Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 and Functional Constipation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
JAMA Netw Open (2024) · Rct · n=229
Primary outcome (change in complete spontaneous bowel movements per week): +0.80 with HN019 vs +0.66 placebo — no difference
Effects of 28-day Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 supplementation on colonic transit time and gastrointestinal symptoms in adults with functional constipation: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, and dose-ranging trial.
Gut Microbes (2018) · Rct · n=228
No significant differences vs placebo in the primary outcome (colonic transit time) or any secondary outcome
B. lactis (BB-12 / HN019) has a higher evidence score (6/10 vs 5/10) and wins in 2 of 3 categories.
For improve digestion, B. lactis (BB-12 / HN019) has a higher relevance score (68 vs 58).
No known interactions between B. infantis 35624 and B. lactis (BB-12 / HN019) have been documented in our database. However, always consult a healthcare provider before combining supplements.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.