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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
L. acidophilus vs L. plantarum 299v: L. plantarum 299v has the stronger overall evidence (5 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.
L. plantarum 299v 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
Too few graded studies
Top outcomes
Shared outcomes (1)
Outcomes where both L. acidophilus and L. plantarum 299v have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
1-100 billion CFU (10^9 to 10^11) per serving — the range FDA reviewed without objection for L. acidophilus DDS-1 in foods generally (GRAS Notice GRN 871); La-14 was noticed at 1 billion CFU per 250 g serving (GRN 502) (the one cited trial that states a dose used 10 billion CFU a day)
Any time of day
A product naming its strain (e.g. NCFM, DDS-1, La-14, La-5)
1 x 10^9 CFU (1 billion) daily taken WITH the iron-containing meal is sufficient for the iron effect — in the dual-isotope crossover trial 10^9 was significant (28.6% vs 18.5%, p<0.028) while 10^10 was NOT (29.1% vs 20.1%, p=0.080). The freeze-dried capsule and IBS trials used 1 x 10^10 CFU daily, and the pregnancy trial used 1 x 10^10 CFU twice daily (2 x 10^10 CFU/day)
With meals
Freeze-dried capsule standardized to 299v (DSM 9843)
Weeks
Weeks
Course of antibiotics
Immediate, per meal
12-25 weeks
4 weeks
n/a
Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 and Bifidobacterium lactis UABla-12 Improve Abdominal Pain Severity and Symptomology in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Randomized Controlled Trial.
Nutrients (2020) · Rct · n=330
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre trial in 330 adults with IBS (Rome IV), allocated 1:1:1 to placebo, L. acidophilus DDS-1 alone or B. lactis UABla-12 alone, each at 1 × 10^10 CFU/day for six weeks
The effects of the DDS-1 strain of lactobacillus on symptomatic relief for lactose intolerance - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial.
Nutr J (2016) · Crossover
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in adults with self-reported lactose intolerance confirmed by a lactose challenge: 4 weeks of DDS-1 or maltodextrin placebo once daily, with a 2-week washout
Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and Clostridium difficile diarrhoea in older inpatients (PLACIDE): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial.
Lancet (2013) · Rct · n=2981
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre trial in 2,981 inpatients aged 65 and over taking antibiotics, given a multistrain preparation of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria (6 × 10^10 organisms per day for 21 days) or placebo
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Probiotic Species on Iron Absorption and Iron Status.
Nutrients (2019) · Meta analysis
Pooled SMD 0.55 (95% CI 0.22-0.88, p=0.001) for increased iron absorption across 8 studies
The effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v together with a low dose of iron on iron status in healthy pregnant women: A randomized clinical trial.
Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand (2021) · Rct · n=326
Iron deficiency at week 35: 59% vs 78% (p=0.017); iron-deficiency anaemia 7.4% vs 21% (p=0.023)
Efficacy of Probiotics in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Gastroenterology (2023) · Meta analysis
For global IBS symptoms, certainty of evidence was LOW for this strain (moderate only for Escherichia strains)
L. plantarum 299v has a higher evidence score (5/10 vs 5/10) and wins in 1 of 3 categories.
For improve digestion, L. acidophilus has a higher relevance score (55 vs 50).
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.