Lactobacillus Casei

What is Lactobacillus Casei?

Living in our guts are thousands of species of bacteria, and Lactobacillus is one of the best known and most studied groups of them. Lactobacillus casei is one of these organisms.

What does the research say about Lactobacillus Casei?

Lactobacillus casei has been studied extensively in relation to the digestive system. A clinical trial of a yoghurt with added live cultures, including Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium lactis, looked at the transit time of food through the digestive tract in healthy women. A review of the L. casei group covers its history and the many areas in which it has been researched. A Lactobacillus preparation containing L. casei has also been studied in people taking antibiotics, and a drink containing the L. casei Shirota strain has been studied for its effects on bowel habits.

Because the gut is involved in so much of what the body does, gut bacteria have been studied well beyond digestion. Researchers have looked at their relationship with blood cholesterol levels, for example, and a review of Bifidobacteria, a different group of gut bacteria, looked at this area.

It's important to remember that bacteria like L. casei require fibrous prebiotics as their food, so we need to include these in our diet too. One of the most important of these is Inulin, which can be found in a range of fruit and vegetables.

Form: Live bacteria.

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Why it's in Gut Works®

Lactobacillus casei is a versatile probiotic species with several unique traits that make it beneficial in clinical settings, particularly for gastrointestinal and immune health. L. casei can survive harsh conditions, such as low pH and bile salts, making it well-suited to the human digestive tract. Its unique ability to adhere to intestinal cells enables it to form a protective layer that helps prevent pathogenic bacteria from colonising. In IBS and other gut conditions, L. casei supports gut health by balancing the microbial balance, strengthening the intestinal barrier, and reducing inflammation by modulating immune responses. L. casei influences cytokine production, which helps mediate the body’s inflammatory response, reducing discomfort and promoting gut integrity. These benefits make L. casei a versatile probiotic, adaptable across diverse gastrointestinal and immune-related applications.