Background

Lactobacillus helveticus (L. helveticus) is a type of probiotic ("good" bacteria) found naturally in the human body. It's also found in fermented foods.

"Good" bacteria such as L. helveticus might help the body break down food, absorb nutrients, and fight off "bad" organisms that might cause diseases. These bacteria are sometimes added to fermented foods like yogurt and also found in dietary supplements.

People use L. helveticus for hay fever, diarrhea, memory and thinking skills, depression, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse L. helveticus with other probiotics, or with fermented food products such as fermented milk, kefir, or yogurt. These are not the same. Also note that the Lactobacillus genus was split up into 25 different genera in April 2020. Many species were reclassified at this time, but L. helveticus remains in the Lactobacillus genus. Its name did not change.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: L. helveticus is possibly safe for most people. L. helveticus has been used safely alone or together with other probiotics in doses of up to 20 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) daily for up to 14 weeks. It seems to be well-tolerated. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if heat-killed L. helveticus is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if L. helveticus is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. But there are no reasons to expect safety concerns when used appropriately.

Children: L. helveticus is possibly safe in most children when taken by mouth appropriately. It's been used safely alone and together with other probiotics in doses of up to 3 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) daily for up to 8 weeks. There isn't enough reliable information to know if L. helveticus is safe for very small premature infants. Also, there isn't enough reliable information to know if heat-killed L. helveticus is safe or what the side effects might be.

Weakened immune system: Probiotics have caused blood infections in a small number of people with weakened immune systems. If you have a weakened immune system, talk with your healthcare provider before taking probiotics, including L. helveticus.

Damaged heart valves: Probiotic preparations can cause an infection in the inner lining of the heart chambers and heart valve. This is extremely rare, but people with damaged heart valves should stop taking probiotics, including L. helveticus, before dental procedures or surgical procedures.

Effectiveness

Dosing & administration

L. helveticus is sometimes added to fermented foods such as yogurts, but it's most commonly taken in dietary supplements.

In adults, L. helveticus has most often been taken by mouth alone in doses of 0.4-20 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) daily for up to 14 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

Antibiotic drugs

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

L. helveticus is a type of friendly bacteria. Antibiotics are used to reduce harmful bacteria in the body. Taking antibiotics along with L. helveticus can reduce the effects of L. helveticus. To avoid this interaction, take L. helveticus products at least 2 hours before or after antibiotics.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.