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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
L. plantarum 299v 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
Too few graded studies
Top outcomes
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
Shared outcomes (1)
Outcomes where both L. plantarum 299v and L. rhamnosus GG 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)
10-20 billion CFU (1-2 x 10^10) daily. A meta-analysis in children with acute gastroenteritis found LGG effective at 10 billion CFU/day or more, and borderline below that.
Any time of day
Capsule standardized to ATCC 53103
Immediate, per meal
12-25 weeks
4 weeks
n/a
During the antibiotic course
During hospital stay
n/a
n/a
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 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 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.