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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
Lactoferrin vs VSL#3 / Visbiome: VSL#3 / Visbiome has the stronger overall evidence (6.5 vs 6.3/10); 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.
VSL#3 / Visbiome wins 2 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Too few graded studies
1 of 1 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
Verdict
Too few graded studies
Top outcomes
200–300 mg daily for adults; 100–200 mg/day for children (a typical label dose, not the dose used in the cited trials, which used 600 to 3,400 mg a day in adults, and no cited trial states a dose for children)
30–60 minutes before breakfast, Between meals on an empty stomach
Bovine lactoferrin capsule or powder (≥95% purity)
Prevention and maintenance are DIFFERENT doses and are often conflated. Preventing the first onset of acute pouchitis used 900 billion CFU/day (1 sachet). Maintaining remission in established chronic or refractory pouchitis — where the effect size is largest — used 6 g/day, which at 5 x 10^11 viable bacteria per gram is about 3 trillion CFU/day, in both maintenance trials. As a ulcerative colitis add-on, 3.6 trillion CFU daily; the active-UC induction trial went highest at 3.6 trillion CFU TWICE daily (7.2 trillion/day), and the paediatric trial lowest at 450 billion/day weight-based
Any time of day
Refrigerated sachet of the De Simone Formulation
4–8 weeks of use
4–8 weeks
4–8 weeks
6–12 weeks
9-12 months
12 months
8-12 weeks
n/a
Effect of Lactoferrin Supplementation on Inflammation, Immune Function, and Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Advances in Nutrition (2022) · Meta analysis
Lactoferrin significantly reduced IL-6 in adults (mean difference: -24.9 pg/mL; 95% CI: -41.64, -8.08 pg/mL)
Lactoferrin reduces the risk of respiratory tract infections: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Clinical Nutrition ESPEN (2021) · Meta analysis · n=1194
Pooled analysis of RCTs showed significant reduction in respiratory tract infection risk with lactoferrin supplementation
Comparative Effects between Oral Lactoferrin and Ferrous Sulfate Supplementation on Iron-Deficiency Anemia: A Comprehensive Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.
Nutrients (2022) · Meta analysis
Lactoferrin supplementation had better effects on serum iron (WMD: 41.44 ug/dL; p < 0.00001), ferritin (WMD: 13.60 ng/mL; p = 0.003) and hemoglobin concentration (11.80 g/dL; p < 0.00001), but a reducing effect on fractional iron absorption (WMD: −2.08%; p = 0.02) and IL-6 levels (WMD: −45.59 pg/mL; p < 0.00001) compared with ferrous sulfate.
Treatment and prevention of pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for chronic ulcerative colitis.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2019) · Meta analysis
Chronic pouchitis maintenance: 85% (34/40) maintained remission at 9-12 months vs 3% (1/36) placebo — RR 20.24 (95% CI 4.28-95.81), low certainty
Oral bacteriotherapy as maintenance treatment in patients with chronic pouchitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Gastroenterology (2000) · Rct · n=40
Relapse in 3/20 (15%) on the probiotic vs 20/20 (100%) on placebo, P<0.001
Once daily high dose probiotic therapy (VSL#3) for maintaining remission in recurrent or refractory pouchitis.
Gut (2004) · Rct · n=36
Remission maintained at 1 year in 17/20 (85%) vs 1/16 (6%) placebo, p<0.0001
VSL#3 / Visbiome has a higher evidence score (6.5/10 vs 6.3/10) and wins in 2 of 3 categories.
For improve digestion, Lactoferrin has a higher relevance score (70 vs 52).
No known interactions between Lactoferrin and VSL#3 / Visbiome 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.