We use essential cookies (authentication, your saved goals/stack) by default. With your permission we’ll also enable privacy-respecting analytics (Vercel Web Analytics, anonymous load-time metrics) and error-replay diagnostics (Sentry — DOM snapshots only when an error fires) so we can fix bugs faster. Learn more about cookies
Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
L. reuteri DSM 17938 vs L. rhamnosus GG: 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
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
Top outcomes
Shared outcomes (2)
Outcomes where both L. reuteri DSM 17938 and L. rhamnosus GG have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
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
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
1-3 weeks
n/a
1-3 days
4 weeks
During the antibiotic course
During hospital stay
n/a
n/a
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
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. reuteri DSM 17938 has a higher evidence score (6/10 vs 6/10) and wins in 1 of 3 categories.
For improve digestion, L. rhamnosus GG has a higher relevance score (72 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.