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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
L. casei Shirota vs L. rhamnosus GG: L. rhamnosus GG 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.
L. rhamnosus GG 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 L. casei Shirota and L. rhamnosus GG have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
One 65-100 mL bottle of the fermented milk drink daily, delivering roughly 6.5 x 10^9 to 1 x 10^11 CFU depending on the product. Doses across trials span this whole range with no dose-comparison study to separate them.
any
Fermented milk drink containing L. casei Shirota (Yakult), 65-100 mL daily
10-20 billion CFU (1-2 x 10^10) daily; 10 billion CFU/day is the effective floor
any
Capsule standardized to ATCC 53103
4 weeks
2 weeks
2-12 weeks
8 weeks
During the antibiotic course
During hospital stay
n/a
n/a
Efficacy of daily intake of Lactobacillus casei Shirota on respiratory symptoms and influenza vaccination immune response: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy elderly nursing home residents.
Am J Clin Nutr (2012) · Rct · n=737
PRIMARY ENDPOINTS ALL NULL: no effect on days with respiratory symptoms, probability of respiratory symptoms, or post-vaccination antibody titre
Probiotics and synbiotics in chronic constipation in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Clin Nutr (2022) · Meta analysis
Probiotics overall increased stool frequency (SMD 0.71, 95% CI 0.37-1.04, p<0.00001) — but the effect was driven by Bifidobacterium lactis, 'not mixtures of probiotics, Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 or Lactobacillus casei Shirota'
A study into the effect of Lactobacillus casei Shirota in preventing antibiotic associated diarrhoea including Clostridioides difficile infection in patients with spinal cord injuries: a multicentre randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
EClinicalMedicine (2021) · Rct · n=359
PRIMARY ENDPOINT NULL: antibiotic-associated diarrhoea at 30 days 45% vs 42.1% (RR 1.071, 95% CI 0.8-1.4, p=0.639)
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG versus Placebo for Acute Gastroenteritis in Children.
N Engl J Med (2018) · Rct · n=971
Primary outcome (modified Vesikari score >=9 within 14 days): 11.8% with LGG vs 12.6% placebo; RR 0.96 (0.68-1.35), P=0.83
Systematic review with meta-analysis: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in children and adults.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther (2015) · Meta analysis
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea fell from 22.4% to 12.3%; RR 0.49 (0.29-0.83) pooled across 11 RCTs, n=1,308 (12 RCTs, n=1,499 included overall)
Probiotics for treating acute infectious diarrhoea.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2020) · Meta analysis
In studies at low risk of bias, no difference in diarrhea lasting >=48 hours (RR 1.00, 0.91-1.09; moderate certainty)
L. rhamnosus GG has a higher evidence score (6/10 vs 5/10) and wins in 2 of 3 categories.
For improve digestion, L. rhamnosus GG has a higher relevance score (72 vs 52).
No known interactions between L. casei Shirota and L. rhamnosus GG 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.