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Lactobacillus paracasei: The Health Benefits of Probiotics

Published September 10, 2015

You may not be aware of this, but right now, inside of you, is a team of living bacteria. Don't be alarmed, however, because the majority of this bacteria is what is keeping you alive. Specific strains of beneficial bacteria are responsible for different health effects, but many of them also share the same functions. Lactobacillus paracasei is one such strain that doesn't get a lot of mention, but its benefits are powerful. To familiarize yourself with this strain, let's take a look at some of the research.

The Benefits of Lactobacillus Paracasei

Of the many probiotic strains commonly added to probiotic supplements, Lactobacillus paracasei often gets missed. Not because it isn't powerful–far from it! Often, it's due to the fact that, compared with other beneficial bacteria, L. paracasei is least discussed in the scientific literature. Fortunately, the information available does tell us something about its power for supporting digestive function, immunity, and even energy levels. One study even showed that the bacterial strain could be helpful for fighting infections. ^[1] ^[2]

Once in the body, L. paracasei moves into the gut, where it, like other strains, starts to work its magic. Research suggests it could be a natural approach for infant diarrhea, a frustrating condition for both the infant and its caretakers. ^[3] Because of this, some infant formulas already contain this probiotic strain. There's also a promising study examining its effectiveness for relieving symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. ^[4] There are certain foods you can add to your diet to receive L. paracasei, such as fermented vegetables and yogurt, or you could take a top-quality supplement in order to get this bacteria on a daily basis.

Tips for Taking Lactobacillus Paracasei

If you're wishing to include L. paracasei in your probiotic supplementation regimen, be sure you're choosing a supplement that contains this strain in addition to other beneficial bacteria. A combination of other strains strengthens the supplement's effectiveness and its ability to survive stomach acid. But if you want to get all the perks of L. paracasei and the other probiotic strains, make sure you're getting your prebiotics, too. Prebiotics are carbohydrates that act as the food probiotics need to survive, so definitely make sure you're getting enough to keep those probiotics happy! Common prebiotics include inulin and gum arabic.

What ways have probiotics benefited you? Tell us about it in the comments below!

-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM