Strain-Specific Probiotics for Gut and Skin Health

Not all probiotics are created equal – benefits can vary dramatically from one strain to another. 'Strain-specific probiotics' refers to the idea that a probiotic's effects are highly dependent on its exact microbial strain, not just its species. Researchers and health professionals often ask what strain of probiotic is best for a given condition, because the most beneficial probiotic strains are typically those backed by evidence for specific outcomes. For example, the best probiotic strains for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) might differ from those for skin health or metabolic support. This article reviews prominent strains and their targeted benefits for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), acne, weight management, and overall gut health, based on current scientific research.

Fig.1 Basic characteristics of probiotic strains.¹

Probiotic Strains for IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) involves symptoms like abdominal discomfort, bloating, and irregular bowel habits. Certain probiotic strains have demonstrated significant effectiveness in managing these symptoms.

• Bifidobacterium infantis 35624: Clinical trials have shown this strain significantly reduces IBS severity scores, aiding in abdominal pain relief and bloating reduction.
• Lactobacillus plantarum 299v: Known for relieving abdominal pain, particularly effective for IBS with predominant bloating.
• Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5260 and Saccharomyces boulardii I-745: Proven to alleviate discomfort, regulate gut barrier functions, and support a balanced gut microbiome.

Researchers find multi-strain formulations helpful, but targeted single strains often deliver clearer results. Thus, the choice of probiotic strain should reflect specific IBS symptom targets.

Probiotic Strains for Constipation Relief

Constipation relief is another prominent area for probiotics research, particularly focusing on strains that enhance bowel regularity.

• Bifidobacterium lactis HN019: This strain significantly accelerates intestinal transit, increasing bowel movement frequency and consistency.
• Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12: Well-studied for improving bowel regularity, especially beneficial for elderly populations.
• Lactobacillus casei Shirota: Improves stool consistency and overall comfort, complementing Bifidobacterium strains' motility enhancement.

Combining Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains has shown synergistic effects in enhancing gut motility and comfort, making them optimal choices for constipation management.

Probiotic Strains for SIBO

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth （SIBO） arises from bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, causing bloating, gas, and malabsorption. Although counterintuitive, selective probiotics can help rebalance the microbiota and reduce symptoms.

• Bifidobacterium triple viable capsules (B. longumB. bifidum, B. infantis): Clinical trials indicated an impressive reduction in bacterial overgrowth and significant symptom improvement.
• Saccharomyces boulardii: Demonstrated capability to reduce overgrowth and significantly alleviate abdominal discomfort in SIBO patients.
• Lactobacillus casei and L. acidophilus: Effective in alleviating bloating and excess gas by suppressing pathogenic bacteria in the gut.

These strains offer potential as complementary approaches for addressing microbial imbalance associated with SIBO.

Probiotic Strains for Acne and the Gut-Skin Axis

Emerging research shows probiotics can influence skin health via the gut-skin axis. Specific probiotic strains may reduce acne by modulating systemic inflammation and gut barrier integrity.

• Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PBS067, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LRH020, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri PBS072: A recent study found significant improvements in acne severity, skin hydration, and reduced skin inflammation markers after supplementation.
• Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium longum: Known to decrease inflammation mediated by stress hormones, potentially reducing acne flares indirectly through gut modulation.

Oral probiotic supplements with targeted strains may offer valuable support for skin health research, emphasizing the importance of gut-based inflammatory regulation.

Probiotic Strains for Weight Management

While probiotics are not weight-loss miracles, certain strains have demonstrated modest yet significant effects on metabolic health and body fat reduction.

• Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 and BNR17: Clinical trials show these strains can notably reduce abdominal visceral fat, waist circumference, and improve body composition by affecting fat absorption.
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724: Particularly effective in women, enhancing weight loss and body fat reduction during dieting phases, indicating hormone-sensitive metabolism modulation.
• Bifidobacterium breve B-3: Demonstrated significant reductions in body fat and waist circumference by positively influencing metabolic pathways linked to fat storage and inflammation.

Combining strains targeting various metabolic mechanisms may optimize research into probiotic-assisted weight management.

Probiotic Strains for General Gut Health and Immunity

Beyond specific conditions, certain probiotics have consistently shown positive impacts on overall gut health and immunity, supporting microbiome balance and gut barrier integrity.

• Saccharomyces boulardii: Renowned for preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea and strengthening intestinal immunity through toxin-neutralization and pathogen inhibition.
• Bifidobacterium longum BB536 and Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12: Core strains that enhance gut barrier integrity, reduce inflammation, and support general immune functions.
• Multi-strain Consortia (e.g., Visbiome/VSL#3): Effective in gut inflammatory conditions due to broad-spectrum strain formulations, though efficacy remains highly strain-specific.

These strains remain popular in probiotic formulations aimed at broadly maintaining gut health, owing to extensive research confirming their benefits.

Future Directions and Precision Probiotics

The emerging concept of precision probiotics highlights the need to tailor probiotic strains or combinations to individual health goals. Researchers emphasize that probiotic effectiveness depends greatly on strain-specific clinical data. While general wellness can benefit from diverse probiotic supplementation, targeted health outcomes require careful strain selection based on robust evidence.

Advancements in genomic and metabolic analysis of probiotic strains promise increasingly precise identification of the most beneficial probiotics for specific conditions. This targeted approach will help researchers, supplement developers, and healthcare professionals optimize probiotic applications based on personalized or condition-specific microbial modulation.

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References

1. Swain, Manas Ranjan, et al. "Fermented fruits and vegetables of Asia: a potential source of probiotics." Biotechnology research international 2014.1 (2014): 250424. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/250424
2. Zhong, Changqing, et al. "Probiotics for preventing and treating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: a meta-analysis and systematic review of current evidence." Journal of clinical gastroenterology 51.4 (2017): 300-311. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0000000000000814
3. Cheng, Jing, Arja Laitila, and Arthur C. Ouwehand. "Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 effects on gut health: A review." Frontiers in Nutrition 8 (2021): 790561. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.790561
4. Distributed Under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.