Home Ingredients Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52 (R0052)

Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52 (R0052)

Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 (CNCM I-1722)
Evidence Level
Preliminary
4 Clinical Trials
5 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52 (R0052) is a probiotic strain from Lallemand Health Solutions (formerly Institut Rosell), isolated from a dairy starter culture and deposited as CNCM I-1722. It was first identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus, so older papers use that name. Most human research tests it inside blends: with Bifidobacterium longum R0175 in Cerebiome® and Probio'Stick®, and as about 5% of Lacidofil® with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus R0011; those results belong to the blends and have their own pages. Tested alone, it did not change cold or flu days, stress or digestive symptom scores in 581 stressed students, and in 221 healthy infants it was well tolerated with normal growth. Neither published placebo-controlled trial of R0052 alone showed a health benefit over placebo.

Studied Dose Alone: 3 billion CFU a day, as one capsule for 6 weeks in university students or one sachet stirred into water for 8 weeks in infants. In blends it is dosed with its partner strain; see the Cerebiome and Lacidofil pages.
Active Compound Live Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 (Rosell-52, CNCM I-1722), freeze-dried and counted in colony-forming units (CFU); formerly identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Benefits

Symptom-free days during exam stress

In a placebo-controlled trial in 581 university students during final exams, 3 billion CFU a day of R0052 for 6 weeks did not change the proportion of healthy days (P = 0.96) or the share reporting a cold or flu day. A different strain in the same trial did. The maker funded the study.

Supported by Trial 1

Self-rated stress and digestive symptom scores in students

A secondary analysis of the same 581-student trial looked at daily stress ratings and weekly diarrhea-related symptom scores. Only the Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 arm lowered them versus placebo (symptom scores at week 2 only); no such effect is reported for R0052.

Supported by Trial 2

Tolerance and growth in healthy infants

In a placebo-controlled trial in 221 healthy infants aged 3 to 12 months, R0052 at 3 billion CFU a day for 8 weeks was one of three single-strain arms. Growth was equivalent across groups, no serious adverse events occurred and adverse event counts were similar to placebo. This shows tolerance, not a benefit.

Supported by Trial 3

Infant stool bacteria and immune markers

In stool samples from the same infant trial, bacterial makeup in the R0052 group stayed close to baseline while the placebo group shifted, and the stool TNF-α/IL-10 ratio rose with R0052. These are lab markers with no linked health outcome.

Supported by Trial 4

Role inside the Cerebiome® and Lacidofil® blends

Most human studies give R0052 with a partner strain: with B. longum R0175 in Cerebiome® (Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175) for mood, and as about 5% of Lacidofil® (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus R0011 and Lactobacillus helveticus R0052) for digestion. Their results cannot be credited to R0052 alone.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 3

Mechanism of action

1

Mucus-binding protein genes (genome data)

Genome sequencing showed that R0052 carries genes for mucus-binding proteins similar to those of L. acidophilus, which was unusual among L. helveticus strains. This suggests it may stick to the gut lining, but it is a laboratory finding and has not been linked to an effect in people.

2

Blocking a gut pathogen in cell studies (lab work)

In human intestinal cell cultures, R0052 attached to the cells and reduced invasion by Campylobacter jejuni bacteria by 35 to 41% in one cell line, while R0011 did not. Cell results do not show protection in people.

3

Passage through the gut

In a small open-label study of a five-strain capsule containing R0052, the strain appeared in stool about 1 to 2 days after the first dose and was still detected for roughly 3 to 6 days after intake stopped, suggesting it passes through without settling in long term.

Clinical trials

1
Cold and Flu Days in 581 Stressed Students, 6 Weeks (No Effect of R0052)
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled four-arm parallel trial (NCT01709825); one capsule a day of 3 billion CFU of L. helveticus R0052, B. infantis R0033 or B. bifidum R0071, or a sugar placebo, during final exams; primary outcome proportion of healthy days; funded by Lallemand Health Solutions, and one author was employed by Lallemand at the time (Langkamp-Henken et al. 2015, Br J Nutr)

Academically stressed undergraduate students in Florida; 583 randomized and 581 analyzed across the four arms

The proportion of healthy days with R0052 did not differ from placebo (P = 0.96), and R0052 did not lower the share of students reporting at least one cold or flu day. Only the B. bifidum R0071 arm improved these outcomes.

2
Stress and Diarrhea-Related Symptoms in the Same Student Trial (Secondary Analysis)
PubMed

Secondary analysis of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial NCT01709825; daily self-rated stress and weekly diarrhea-related symptom scores from the GI Symptom Rating Scale over 6 weeks; one author affiliated with Lallemand Health Solutions (Culpepper et al. 2016, Benef Microbes)

581 undergraduate students given L. helveticus R0052, B. infantis R0033, B. bifidum R0071 or placebo

Only B. bifidum R0071 lowered self-rated stress, and diarrhea-related symptom scores at week 2, versus placebo; the abstract reports no such effect for R0052. Symptom scores rose after antibiotic use in the placebo group but not in the probiotic groups, an exploratory observation.

3
Safety and Tolerance in 221 Healthy Infants, 8 Weeks
PubMed

Multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled four-arm trial (NCT02215304); 3 billion CFU a day of L. helveticus R0052, B. infantis R0033 or B. bifidum R0071 in a sachet stirred into water, or potato starch placebo; primary outcomes growth, adverse events, stool characteristics and medication use; sponsored by ProbiSearch with Lallemand Health Solutions as collaborator (Manzano et al. 2017, Benef Microbes)

221 healthy full-term infants aged 3 to 12 months in Spain; per-group numbers are not given in the abstract

Changes in weight, height and head circumference were equivalent in all four groups, no serious adverse events occurred, and the total number of adverse events was equivalent across groups. This is a safety result, not a test of a health benefit.

4
Stool Bacteria and Immune Markers in the Same Infant Trial
PubMed

Analysis of stool samples from the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled infant trial; 16S rRNA gene sequencing and multiplex immune factor assays before and after 8 weeks (De Andrés et al. 2018, Benef Microbes)

Healthy infants aged 3 to 12 months given one of three single strains, including R0052, or placebo

Stool bacterial makeup changed little in the probiotic groups, while the placebo group showed fewer of some Bifidobacterium species and more of several other genera. The stool TNF-α/IL-10 ratio rose in the R0052 group. These are marker changes with no linked health outcome.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

In 221 healthy infants given R0052 or one of two other single strains for 8 weeks, no serious adverse events occurred and the number of adverse events was equivalent to placebo.
In the 6-week student trial, no digestive adverse events were reported with R0052; one participant on it left the study after 7 days, citing loss of interest.
People with weakened immune systems, central venous catheters or serious illness should take live probiotics only with medical advice.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: no trial of R0052 alone studied these groups; ask your doctor first.
Long-term safety: trials of R0052 alone lasted 6 to 8 weeks, so there is little information on longer use.

Important Drug interactions

Antibiotics: no trial of R0052 alone tested timing with antibiotics; ask your pharmacist how to space a live probiotic around antibiotic doses.
Immunosuppressants and chemotherapy: people taking these should use live probiotics only with medical advice.
No other drug interactions have been studied for R0052 alone.

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Frequently asked questions about Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52 (R0052)

Is R0052 the same as the L. acidophilus in older studies?

Yes, in studies from Institut Rosell or Lallemand that name strain R0052 or Rosell-52. The strain was first identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus from its traits, and gene sequencing later showed it belongs to Lactobacillus helveticus. Older papers and labels may still use the acidophilus name for the same strain.

Has R0052 been studied on its own?

Yes, but rarely. It was one arm of a 6-week trial in 581 stressed students, where it did not change cold or flu days, stress or digestive symptom scores versus placebo, and of an 8-week trial in 221 healthy infants, where it was well tolerated. Most other studies test it in blends.

How does this page relate to Cerebiome and Lacidofil?

Both products contain R0052. Cerebiome® (also sold as Probio'Stick®) pairs it with Bifidobacterium longum R0175, and Lacidofil® blends it at about 5% with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus R0011. Each blend has its own page, because their trial results cannot be credited to R0052 alone.

How much R0052 was used in studies of the strain alone?

Both single-strain trials used 3 billion CFU a day: one capsule for 6 weeks in university students and one sachet stirred into water for 8 weeks in infants. Follow the product label.

What is Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52?

Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52 (R0052) is a probiotic strain from Lallemand Health Solutions (formerly Institut Rosell), isolated from a dairy starter culture and deposited as CNCM I-1722. It was first identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus, so older papers use that name.

What is Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52 used for?

NutraSmarts does not list Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52 under a health category. What the research covers: In a placebo-controlled trial in 581 university students during final exams, 3 billion CFU a day of R0052 for 6 weeks did not change the proportion of healthy days (P = 0.96) or the share reporting a cold or flu day.

Is Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52 safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52 include: In 221 healthy infants given R0052 or one of two other single strains for 8 weeks, no serious adverse events occurred and the number of adverse events was equivalent to placebo. It may also interact with some medications. Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52 is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52 interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Antibiotics: no trial of R0052 alone tested timing with antibiotics; ask your pharmacist how to space a live probiotic around antibiotic doses. Immunosuppressants and chemotherapy: people taking these should use live probiotics only with medical advice. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell-52 as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 4 study summaries and 13 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(13 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Langkamp-Henken B, Rowe CC, Ford AL, Christman MC, Nieves C Jr, Khouri L, Specht GJ, Girard SA, Spaiser SJ, Dahl WJ. Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 results in a greater proportion of healthy days and a lower percentage of academically stressed students reporting a day of cold/flu: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Br J Nutr. 2015;113(3):426-34. doi: 10.1017/S0007114514003997.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled four-arm trial in academically stressed university students (583 randomized, 581 analyzed): one capsule a day of 3 billion CFU of L. helveticus R0052, B. infantis R0033 or B. bifidum R0071, or placebo, for 6 weeks. B. bifidum R0071 raised the proportion of healthy days, but L. helveticus R0052 did not differ from placebo (P = 0.96), and it did not lower the share of students reporting at least one cold or flu day. Funded by Lallemand Health Solutions; one author was employed by Lallemand at the time.
  2. Culpepper T, Christman MC, Nieves C Jr, Specht GJ, Rowe CC, Spaiser SJ, Ford AL, Dahl WJ, Girard SA, Langkamp-Henken B. Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 decreases stress-associated diarrhoea-related symptoms and self-reported stress: a secondary analysis of a randomised trial. Benef Microbes. 2016;7(3):327-36. doi: 10.3920/BM2015.0156.PubMedUsed to support: Secondary analysis of the same 581-student trial (NCT01709825) of daily stress ratings and weekly diarrhea-related symptom scores over 6 weeks. Only B. bifidum R0071 lowered self-reported stress (P = 0.0086) and, at week 2, diarrhea-related symptoms versus placebo; the abstract reports no such effect for L. helveticus R0052. One author is affiliated with Lallemand Health Solutions.
  3. Manzano S, De Andrés J, Castro I, Rodríguez JM, Jiménez E, Espinosa-Martos I. Safety and tolerance of three probiotic strains in healthy infants: a multi-centre randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Benef Microbes. 2017;8(4):569-578. doi: 10.3920/BM2017.0009.PubMedUsed to support: Multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 221 healthy full-term infants aged 3 to 12 months, who received placebo or one of three strains (B. infantis R0033, L. helveticus R0052 or B. bifidum R0071) at 3 billion CFU a day for 8 weeks. Growth changes were equivalent in all four groups, no serious adverse events occurred, and the number of adverse events was equivalent across groups. Several authors are affiliated with Probisearch, the registered sponsor.
  4. De Andrés J, Manzano S, García C, Rodríguez JM, Espinosa-Martos I, Jiménez E. Modulatory effect of three probiotic strains on infants' gut microbial composition and immunological parameters on a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised study. Benef Microbes. 2018;9(4):573-584. doi: 10.3920/BM2017.0132.PubMedUsed to support: Stool analyses from the same infant trial after 8 weeks of placebo or one of three strains. Stool bacteria in the probiotic groups did not change notably, while the placebo group showed fewer of some Bifidobacterium species and more of several other genera. The stool TNF-α/IL-10 ratio rose in the L. helveticus R0052 group. These are marker findings, not health outcomes.
  5. U.S. National Library of Medicine, ClinicalTrials.gov. The Effect of Probiotics on Immune Function, and Digestive Health in Academically-stressed University Students: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Study (NCT01709825). ClinicalTrials.gov. 2026;NCT01709825. Accessed 2026..SourceUsed to support: Trial registry record, not PubMed-indexed, read in 2026. Lists the University of Florida as lead sponsor and Lallemand as collaborator, 583 participants, one capsule a day for 6 weeks of L. helveticus R0052, B. infantis R0033, B. bifidum R0071 or a sucrose placebo, and three primary outcomes: proportion of days without cold or flu, gut bacteria and digestive health.
  6. U.S. National Library of Medicine, ClinicalTrials.gov. A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Intervention Study to Assess the Safety and Tolerance Effect of Three Probiotic Strains in Infants (NCT02215304). ClinicalTrials.gov. 2026;NCT02215304. Accessed 2026..SourceUsed to support: Trial registry record, not PubMed-indexed, read in 2026. Lists ProbiSearch as sponsor and Lallemand Health Solutions as collaborator, 221 infants, and an L. helveticus R0052 arm of 3 billion CFU in one sachet a day stirred into 10 mL of water for 8 weeks against a potato starch placebo. Primary outcomes were growth, adverse events, stool characteristics and medication use.
  7. Naser SM, Hagen KE, Vancanneyt M, Cleenwerck I, Swings J, Tompkins TA. Lactobacillus suntoryeus Cachat and Priest 2005 is a later synonym of Lactobacillus helveticus (Orla-Jensen 1919) Bergey et al. 1925 (Approved Lists 1980). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2006;56(Pt 2):355-360. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.64001-0.PubMedUsed to support: Taxonomy study with Institut Rosell authors: strain R0052, isolated from a North American dairy starter culture, was first identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus from its phenotype, but gene sequencing and DNA-DNA hybridization placed it in Lactobacillus helveticus.
  8. Auclair-Ouellet N, Tremblay A, Kassem O, Caballero-Calero SE, Bronner S, Binda S. Probiotics as Adjuvants to Standard Helicobacter pylori Treatment: Evidence for the Use of Lacidofil(®), an Established Blend of Thoroughly Characterized Strains. Microorganisms. 2025;13(10):2223. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13102223.PubMedUsed to support: Review written by Lallemand Health Solutions employees. States that L. helveticus Rosell-52 was isolated from a dairy starter culture in 1990, deposited as I-1722 at the Institut Pasteur CNCM, first identified as L. acidophilus and later reclassified as L. helveticus, and that Lacidofil, available since 1995, blends L. rhamnosus Rosell-11 and L. helveticus Rosell-52 at 95 to 5.
  9. Tompkins TA, Barreau G, Broadbent JR. Complete genome sequence of Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, a commercial probiotic strain. J Bacteriol. 2012;194(22):6349. doi: 10.1128/JB.01638-12.PubMedUsed to support: Genome announcement led by an Institut Rosell-Lallemand scientist: the R0052 genome has 2,129,425 bases, and the strain was unique among L. helveticus strains in carrying genes for mucus-binding proteins similar to those of L. acidophilus. Laboratory data only.
  10. Wine E, Gareau MG, Johnson-Henry K, Sherman PM. Strain-specific probiotic (Lactobacillus helveticus) inhibition of Campylobacter jejuni invasion of human intestinal epithelial cells. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2009;300(1):146-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2009.01781.x.PubMedUsed to support: Cell culture study: pretreatment with L. helveticus R0052 reduced invasion of human colon T84 cells by Campylobacter jejuni by 35 to 41% and of intestine 407 cells by one isolate by 55%, while L. rhamnosus R0011 did not; R0052 adhered to both cell types. Laboratory work only.
  11. Tremblay A, Auger J, Alyousif Z, Calero SEC, Mathieu O, Rivero-Mendoza D, Elmaoui A, Dahl WJ, Tompkins TA. Total Transit Time and Probiotic Persistence in Healthy Adults: A Pilot Study. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2023;29(2):218-228. doi: 10.5056/jnm22031.PubMedUsed to support: Open-label pilot study in 30 healthy adults taking a five-strain capsule (30 billion CFU a day, including L. helveticus R0052) for 2 weeks: the strains were detected in stool about 1 to 2 days after the first dose, and R0052 persisted for roughly 3 to 6 days after intake stopped. Six authors are Lallemand Health Solutions employees. No placebo group and no health outcome.
  12. Messaoudi M, Lalonde R, Violle N, Javelot H, Desor D, Nejdi A, Bisson JF, Rougeot C, Pichelin M, Cazaubiel M, Cazaubiel JM. Assessment of psychotropic-like properties of a probiotic formulation (Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175) in rats and human subjects. Br J Nutr. 2011;105(5):755-64. doi: 10.1017/S0007114510004319.PubMedUsed to support: Cited as an other-product reference: a 30-day placebo-controlled trial in 55 healthy volunteers of the two-strain product (R0052 plus B. longum R0175, 3 billion CFU a day), with results covered on the Cerebiome page. It does not test R0052 alone.
  13. Freedman SB, Williamson-Urquhart S, Farion KJ, Gouin S, Willan AR, Poonai N, Hurley K, Sherman PM, Finkelstein Y, Lee BE, Pang XL, Chui L, Schnadower D, Xie J, Gorelick M, Schuh S, PERC PROGUT Trial Group. Multicenter Trial of a Combination Probiotic for Children with Gastroenteritis. N Engl J Med. 2018;379(21):2015-2026. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1802597.PubMedUsed to support: Cited as an other-product reference: the 886-child trial of L. rhamnosus R0011 with L. helveticus R0052 (registered as Lacidofil, about 95 to 5), 4 billion CFU twice daily for 5 days, which did not reduce moderate-to-severe gastroenteritis; results are covered on the Lacidofil page. It does not test R0052 alone.