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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
B. lactis (BB-12 / HN019) vs L. reuteri DSM 17938: L. reuteri DSM 17938 has the stronger overall evidence (6 vs 6/10); 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.
L. reuteri DSM 17938 wins 1 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Too few graded studies
Top outcomes
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
Shared outcomes (1)
Outcomes where both B. lactis (BB-12 / HN019) and L. reuteri DSM 17938 have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
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 time of day
Capsule or sachet standardized to a named strain (BB-12 or HN019)
1 x 10^8 CFU daily (5 drops) for infant colic — the dose used in every positive trial
Any time of day
Oil-suspension drops standardized to DSM 17938
2 weeks
4 weeks
n/a
n/a
1-3 weeks
n/a
1-3 days
4 weeks
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
Lactobacillus reuteri to Treat Infant Colic: A Meta-analysis.
Pediatrics (2018) · Meta analysis
Day-21 adjusted mean difference in cry/fuss time: -25.4 min/day (95% CI -47.3 to -3.5)
Treating infant colic with the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri: double blind, placebo controlled randomised trial.
BMJ (2014) · Rct · n=167
Probiotic group cried/fussed 49 minutes MORE than placebo at 1 month (95% CI 8 to 90, P=0.02)
Probiotics to prevent infantile colic.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2019) · Meta analysis
No difference in new cases of colic: RR 0.46 (95% CI 0.18-1.19), low certainty
L. reuteri DSM 17938 has a higher evidence score (6/10 vs 6/10) and wins in 1 of 3 categories.
For improve digestion, B. lactis (BB-12 / HN019) has a higher relevance score (68 vs 55).
No documented interaction was found in the data searched. This does not establish that this exact combination is safe.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.