Benefits
Bowel symptoms and quality of life over 12 weeks
In a placebo-controlled trial with results for 60 adults who had been treated for colorectal cancer, Lacidofil twice daily for 12 weeks led to a larger drop in the share reporting bowel symptoms and larger gains in functional well-being and quality of life scores than placebo. It is one small trial, and the abstract does not give the dose in CFU.
Stool outcomes during antibiotic use in hospitalized adults
In 214 adult inpatients starting antibiotics, 4 billion CFU a day for 14 days did not lower the share who developed diarrhea, the main outcome (3.9% vs 7.2%). More people on the probiotic kept unchanged stool frequency and consistency (48.5% vs 31.5%), a result outside the main and secondary outcomes that was not significant among those who completed the study.
Stool patterns during an antibiotic course in healthy adults
In 160 healthy adults taking amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, 8 billion CFU a day for 2 weeks did not change stool consistency or frequency, the main outcomes, or symptom scores compared with placebo. An analysis added after the trial found diarrhea-like episodes lasted about a day less (2.7 vs 3.7 days). Two authors were from the maker.
Digestive comfort during a stomach antibiotic regimen
In 90 adults given 14-day triple drug therapy for H. pylori infection, 4 billion CFU twice daily during and after the drugs went with less bloating, diarrhea, nausea and bitter taste and lower digestive symptom scores than placebo. The maker funded it. This is drug co-treatment in an infected group, not a stand-alone effect.
Digestive recovery in young children
In 886 Canadian children aged 3 to 48 months seen in emergency departments for gastroenteritis, 4 billion CFU twice daily for 5 days did not reduce moderate-to-severe illness (26.1% vs 24.7%) or shorten diarrhea or vomiting. A 112-child Indonesian trial also found no shorter diarrhea, and a European pediatric expert group advises against this use.
Gut barrier after a high aspirin dose
In 29 healthy adults, at least 8 billion CFU a day for 3 weeks did not limit the rise in gastroduodenal permeability after a single 1950 mg aspirin dose, and digestive symptom scores did not differ from placebo. The maker funded the trial and supplied the capsules.
Vaccine antibody response in older adults
In 554 healthy adults aged 60 to 90, Lacidofil capsules twice daily for 6 months did not change antibody protection after a flu vaccine, and the rate of flu-like illness, the main outcome, did not differ between the probiotic and non-probiotic groups.
Mechanism of action
Adhesion to gut lining cells (lab work)
In cell studies summarized by a maker-coauthored review, both strains stuck to human intestinal cells, helped maintain the barrier between cells and blocked several disease-causing bacteria from attaching. These are laboratory findings; the 29-person aspirin trial found no protection of gut barrier function in people.
Inflammatory signals in cell studies
The same review reports that the strains lowered the inflammatory signals IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α in cell experiments. Such markers were not shown to change any digestive outcome in the human trials cited here.
A fixed two-strain blend
Lacidofil combines R0011 and R0052 at about 95 to 5, so most of each dose is R0011. The trials tested the blend, not either strain alone, so results cannot be credited to one strain. Cerebiome uses the same R0052 strain with a different partner and has its own evidence.
Clinical trials
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial; one Lacidofil cap (2 billion CFU) twice daily for 14 days, started within 48 hours of antibiotics (Song et al. 2010, J Korean Med Sci)
214 adult inpatients at 10 Korean hospitals receiving antibiotics for respiratory tract infections; 42 did not complete
The primary outcome did not differ: diarrhea developed in 3.9% on the probiotic and 7.2% on placebo (P=0.44). Unchanged stool frequency and consistency was more common on the probiotic (48.5% vs 31.5%, P=0.01) but not among completers (P=0.10). Funded by a Korean gastroenterology society; the authors reported no conflict with the Korean supplier.
10-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial; 8 billion CFU a day of R0052 with R0011 during 1 week of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and for 1 week after (Evans et al. 2016, Br J Nutr)
160 healthy adults (80 probiotic, 80 placebo)
Stool consistency and frequency, the primary outcomes, did not differ from placebo, nor did diarrhea-like stools, symptom scores, safety measures or adverse events. In a post hoc analysis, diarrhea-like episodes lasted 2.7 vs 3.7 days (P=0.037). Two of the five authors are from Lallemand Health Solutions.
Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial; Lacidofil twice daily for 12 weeks, CFU not given in the abstract (Lee et al. 2014, Dig Liver Dis)
Colorectal cancer survivors in Korea; 60 analyzed (28 probiotic, 32 placebo)
Changes favored the probiotic over placebo for the share with bowel symptoms (P<0.05), functional well-being (P=0.04) and cancer-related quality of life scores (P=0.04). Within the probiotic group, irritable bowel symptoms fell from 67.9% to 45.7%. A small single trial; the abstract does not name a product funder.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial; at least 4 billion CFU of R0011 with R0052 twice daily for 3 weeks, with 1950 mg aspirin after 2 weeks (Judkins et al. 2024, BMC Gastroenterol)
29 generally healthy adults (mean age 26) who completed both phases
Aspirin raised gastroduodenal permeability to the same degree on probiotic and placebo, and gastrointestinal function scores did not differ. Funded by Lallemand Health Solutions and the USDA; Lallemand supplied the products and two authors work for it.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled factorial trial (NCT03695432); trivalent flu vaccine or placebo plus Lacidofil or placebo capsules for 6 months (twice daily per the trial registry), CFU not stated (Koesnoe et al. 2021, PLoS One)
554 healthy adults aged 60 to 90 in East Jakarta, Indonesia, in four groups of 136 to 141
The probiotic did not change seroprotection or seroconversion (p=1.000 and p=0.210), and influenza-like illness, the primary outcome, did not differ between probiotic and non-probiotic groups. The vaccine maker paid two authors and supplied the vaccines; the probiotic supplier is not named.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT01853124); R0011 with R0052 at 4 billion CFU twice daily for 5 days, registered as Lacidofil (Freedman et al. 2018, N Engl J Med)
886 children aged 3 to 48 months at six Canadian pediatric emergency departments
Moderate-to-severe gastroenteritis within 14 days: 26.1% on probiotic vs 24.7% on placebo (P=0.72). Diarrhea and vomiting duration, unscheduled visits and adverse events did not differ. A later pathogen analysis found no benefit by virus or bacteria type. Funded by CIHR and others; Institut Rosell Lallemand is a registered collaborator.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial; R0011 (1.9 billion CFU) and R0052 (0.1 billion CFU) daily for 7 days with oral rehydration and zinc (Hegar et al. 2015, Indian J Pediatr)
112 children aged 6 to 36 months with acute infectious diarrhea and moderate dehydration
Median diarrhea duration was 68.5 hours on the probiotic and 61.5 hours on placebo (P=0.596), and daily stool frequency did not differ (P=0.795). The abstract does not state funding.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial; R0011 (1.9 billion CFU) and R0052 (0.1 billion CFU) daily alongside omeprazole 20 mg a day (Hegar et al. 2013, J Pediatr (Rio J))
70 children (36 probiotic, 34 placebo)
Positive glucose breath tests for small bowel bacterial overgrowth were 33% on the probiotic and 26.5% on placebo (p=0.13), so the probiotic did not lower the risk. The abstract does not state funding.