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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
L. plantarum 299v vs L. reuteri DSM 17938: L. reuteri DSM 17938 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. reuteri DSM 17938 wins 2 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 L. plantarum 299v and L. reuteri DSM 17938 have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
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)
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
Immediate, per meal
12-25 weeks
4 weeks
n/a
1-3 weeks
n/a
1-3 days
4 weeks
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)
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 5/10) and wins in 2 of 3 categories.
For improve digestion, L. reuteri DSM 17938 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.