The modern gut health research reveals that L. Reuteri is unique due to its mechanisms and its history with humans.

Some Key Benefits In Daily Life

L. Reuteri is a well-researched probiotic, and here are five of the top reported benefits:
Improved Digestive Health and Relief from Gastrointestinal Disorders:
1. It is often used to help manage symptoms of conditions like infantile colic (reducing crying time in infants), diarrhuea (especially in children), and constipation by promoting regular bowel movements and improving gut motility.
2.It helps balance the gut microbiome by suppressing harmful bacteria and promoting the growth of beneficial ones.
Enhanced Immune Function:
1. L. Reuteri can modulate the immune system, often by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting anti-inflammatory responses.
2. It strengthens the gut barrier function, which is crucial for preventing the translocation of harmful microbes from the gut into the body.
Antimicrobial Activity:
It produces antimicrobial molecules, notably reuterin, which can inhibit the growth of a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms, including some harmful bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and protozoa.
Potential for Cholesterol Reduction:
Some studies suggest that certain strains of L. Reuteri may help in slightly lowering total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels by modifying the gut microbiota.
Support for Gut-Brain Axis and Mood:
Emerging research, particularly in animal studies, hints at L. Reuteri’s potential to positively influence the gut-brain connection, suggesting benefits related to mood, stress, and social behaviour by modulating neurotransmitters.

Broad Benefits & Rarity as a Probiotic
L. Reuteri is considered to have broad-spectrum benefits and be a rare/elite probiotic for several key reasons related to its co-evolution with mammals and its potent chemical defences.

1. Production of Reuterin (Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial)
L. Reuteri is highly notable for its ability to produce reuterin (a glycerol fermentation product). Reuterin is a powerful, broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound that can inhibit the growth of many harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.
This is a sophisticated defence mechanism that allows L. Reuteri to act like a “microbial bouncer,” helping to balance the entire gut ecosystem by keeping pathogens in check without severely harming other beneficial bacteria.

2. Immune System & Gut Barrier Regulation
It has exceptional ability to interact with the host’s immune system. Specific strains are known to modulate inflammation by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines while increasing anti-inflammatory ones.
L. Reuteri also helps strengthen the gut barrier (mucosal lining), preventing “leaky gut” and the resulting systemic inflammation, which is linked to a variety of chronic conditions.
3. Adaptability and Niche
It’s one of the few Lactobacillus species known to colonise a large number of vertebrates, including all mammals, suggesting a deep, co-evolved relationship. In humans, it has a niche in the stomach and small intestine, being able to survive the harsh acidic environment where many other probiotics cannot.
Why it Declined in the Modern Gut
L. Reuteri was historically a dominant bacteria in the human gut, but its prevalence has dramatically decreased over the past few decades. This decline is strongly correlated with changes in modern Western lifestyle and is an indicator of “microbial extinction” within humans.
4. Loss of Natural Transmission
Reduced Natural Birth: L. Reuteri is naturally transmitted from mother to infant via the birth canal and is a common component of breast milk. Increased rates of C-sections and reduced breastfeeding interrupt this crucial initial transfer.
Sanitation and Isolation: Increased sanitation and reduced exposure to the natural environment limit opportunities for re-exposure and colonisation throughout life.
5. Dietary Changes
Low-Fibre Diet: L. Reuteri is a microorganism that relies on certain carbohydrates, often found in high-fiber, fermented, and traditional diets, to thrive and produce its beneficial metabolites. The modern diet, which is typically low in diverse fibres, doesn’t provide the optimal fuel for its proliferation.
Loss of Fermented Foods: Traditional food preservation methods often involved spontaneous fermentation where L. Reuteri was a key player. Pasteurisation and modern food processing have virtually eliminated this bacterium from the average food supply.
6. Widespread Antibiotic Use
The frequent and widespread use of antibiotics throughout a person’s lifetime can wipe out even resilient species like L. Reuteri, and without the conditions for natural re-colonisation (as noted above), it fails to return.
The modern scarcity of L. Reuteri is seen by some researchers as a key factor in the increase of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, making its supplementation particularly relevant today.
Would you like to know which specific strains are commonly used in supplements for targeting different health goals?