Lactobacillus helveticus
Also called L. helveticus, Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, Rosell-52, L. helveticus fermented milk, lactotripeptides.
Best grade C across 11 graded outcomes Other Last checked
We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes our grades or rankings. How we make money →
The short answer
From 15 sourcesThe R0052 plus B. longum R0175 pair has mixed mood results: it cut depression scores in 110 people with major depression, but showed no benefit in 79 people with low mood, 135 healthy adults, or on the main score in 116 with depression. A 886-child trial found no help for stomach bugs. Fermented-milk blood-pressure results were small.
Every graded outcome on this page
11 rows · line = participants- CGrade CDepression scores alongside usual treatmentMoodn 116
- CGrade CDepression scores in major depressive disorderMoodn 110
- CGrade C24-hour blood pressure in hypertensionBlood pressuren 94
- CGrade CHormones and oxidative stress in PCOSPCOSn 90
- CGrade CPsychological distress in healthy volunteersMoodn 55
- DGrade DDepression and anxiety scores alongside antidepressants in older adultsMoodn 58
- DGrade DSleep in healthy older adultsSleepn 29
- ∅No effectModerate-to-severe stomach illness in young childrenStomach illnessn 886
- ∅No effectWellbeing and anxiety in healthy adultsMoodn 135
- ∅No effect24-hour blood pressure with lactotripeptide milkBlood pressuren 89
- ∅No effectMood, stress and anxiety in adults with low moodMoodn 79
- 8 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- What it is
- A dairy bacterium; most supplement trials used strain R0052 together with Bifidobacterium longum R017537
- Depression (110 patients)
- Beck depression score fell from 17.39 to 9.1 vs 18.18 to 15.55 on placebo over 8 weeks5
- Children's stomach bugs (886)
- R0052 with L. rhamnosus R0011 did no better than placebo9
What it is
Lactobacillus helveticus is a dairy lactic-acid bacterium. Mood trials paired strain R0052 with B. longum R0175; blood-pressure trials used fermented milk.
Forms, side by side
2 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.
Lactobacillus helveticus forms compared
2 forms| 2 forms | Capsules or sticks of R0052 plus B. longum R0175 | L. helveticus fermented milk (LBK-16H, tripeptides) |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption in people | Not absorbed; acts in the gut.3 | Not measured in the cited trials.1011 |
| GI tolerance | Placebo-like in mood trials; dry mouth and sleep disruption were more common on placebo in one trial.4 | Adverse events did not differ from control over 10 weeks.10 |
| Studied for | Mood, stress, PCOS markers | Blood pressure, sleep |
- Capsules or sticks of R0052 plus B. longum R0175
- L. helveticus fermented milk (LBK-16H, tripeptides)
- GI tolerance
- Adverse events did not differ from control over 10 weeks.10
- Studied for
- Blood pressure, sleep
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
11 graded outcomes, largest study first11 graded outcomes: 3 improved, 4 mixed, 4 no effect. The largest, a 2018 randomized trial of 886 people on Moderate-to-severe stomach illness in young children, found no effect.
1Moderate-to-severe stomach illness in young children
No effect · No-effect grade · RCT, 886 people, 2018
Children 3 to 48 months old with gastroenteritis at six Canadian emergency departments
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate-to-severe stomach illness in young children | No effect | 886 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2018 | Children 3 to 48 months old with gastroenteritis at six Canadian emergency departments |
| Wellbeing and anxiety in healthy adults | No effect | 135 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2023 | Healthy adults in Chile |
| Depression scores alongside usual treatment | Mixed | 116 | Grade C · RCT, 2024 | Adults with depression in Poland, many on antidepressants |
| Depression scores in major depressive disorder | Improved | 110 | Grade C · RCT, 2019 | Adults with major depressive disorder in Iran (81 completed) |
| 24-hour blood pressure in hypertension | Improved | 94 | Grade C · RCT, 2005 | Untreated adults with hypertension in Finland |
| Hormones and oxidative stress in PCOS | Mixed | 90 | Grade C · RCT, 2025 | Women with polycystic ovary syndrome in Iran |
| 24-hour blood pressure with lactotripeptide milk | No effect | 89 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2012 | Adults with mild hypertension in Finland |
| Mood, stress and anxiety in adults with low mood | No effect | 79 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2017 | Adults in New Zealand with at least moderate low mood, not on psychiatric drugs |
| Depression and anxiety scores alongside antidepressants in older adults | Mixed | 58 | Grade D · Pilot RCT, 2026 | Adults aged 60 or older with moderate unipolar depression on standard antidepressant care, at two centres in India |
| Psychological distress in healthy volunteers | Improved | 55 | Grade C · RCT, 2011 | Healthy adult volunteers in France |
| Sleep in healthy older adults | Mixed | 29 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2009 | Healthy adults aged 60 to 81 in Japan |
Every graded row
11 rowsShowing 11 of 11 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade CDepression scores alongside usual treatmentMoodMain score null; more respondersRCT
n 116 · 2024
Mixed No advantage over placebo on the depression score (p = 0.45); more people reached a minimal clinically important improvement (74.5% vs 53.5%, p = 0.03).
- Design
- RCT, n = 116, 2024
- Population
- Adults with depression in Poland, many on antidepressants
- Form
- L. helveticus Rosell-52 plus B. longum Rosell-175
- Dose
- Daily (dose not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- 60 days
- Source
- Reference 7 · PubMed 38732635 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CDepression scores in major depressive disorderMoodLower depression scoresRCT
n 110 · 2019
Improved Beck Depression Inventory fell from 17.39 to 9.1 with the probiotic vs 18.18 to 15.55 on placebo (p = 0.042); a galactooligosaccharide prebiotic arm did not help.
- Design
- RCT, n = 110, 2019
- Population
- Adults with major depressive disorder in Iran (81 completed)
- Form
- L. helveticus plus B. longum
- Dose
- Daily (dose not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 29731182 (opens PubMed)
CGrade C24-hour blood pressure in hypertensionBlood pressureLower blood pressureRCT
n 94 · 2005
Improved Systolic pressure fell 4.1 mm Hg (P = .001) and diastolic 1.8 mm Hg (P = .048) more than control; adverse events did not differ.
- Design
- RCT, n = 94, 2005
- Population
- Untreated adults with hypertension in Finland
- Form
- L. helveticus LBK-16H fermented milk with tripeptides
- Dose
- 150 mL twice a day
- Duration
- 10 weeks
- Source
- Reference 10 · PubMed 16364832 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CHormones and oxidative stress in PCOSPCOSLab changes, no symptom changeRCT
n 90 · 2025
Mixed SHBG and antioxidant capacity rose and free androgen index, CRP and malondialdehyde fell vs placebo; acne, hair loss and hirsutism did not change.
- Design
- RCT, n = 90, 2025
- Population
- Women with polycystic ovary syndrome in Iran
- Form
- L. helveticus plus B. longum
- Dose
- Daily (dose not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 8 · PubMed 41254712 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CPsychological distress in healthy volunteersMoodLess distressRCT
n 55 · 2011
Improved HSCL-90 global severity, depression and anger scores and HADS global score improved vs placebo (P < 0.05); urinary free cortisol fell (P < 0.05).
- Design
- RCT, n = 55, 2011
- Population
- Healthy adult volunteers in France
- Form
- L. helveticus R0052 plus B. longum R0175
- Dose
- One stick a day (amount not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- 30 days
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 20974015 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DDepression and anxiety scores alongside antidepressants in older adultsMoodModest, not over timePilot RCT
n 58 · 2026
Mixed Overall depression (MADRS) and anxiety (GAD-7) scores were lower in the probiotic group, but group-by-time interactions were not significant and quality of life improved equally in both groups.
- Design
- Pilot RCT, n = 58, 2026
- Population
- Adults aged 60 or older with moderate unipolar depression on standard antidepressant care, at two centres in India
- Form
- L. helveticus with B. longum (strains not named in the abstract) vs placebo
- Dose
- Daily (amount not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- 12 weeks, then 12 weeks of follow-up
- Source
- Reference 13 · PubMed 42304935 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DSleep in healthy older adultsSleepWithin-group change onlyCrossover RCT
n 29 · 2009
Mixed Sleep efficiency and wake episodes improved vs baseline on fermented milk, but no sleep or quality-of-life measure differed significantly from placebo.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 29, 2009
- Population
- Healthy adults aged 60 to 81 in Japan
- Form
- L. helveticus fermented milk drink
- Dose
- 100 g a day
- Duration
- 3 weeks per period
- Source
- Reference 12 · PubMed 17851460 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectModerate-to-severe stomach illness in young childrenStomach illnessNo benefitRCT
n 886 · 2018
No effect Moderate-to-severe illness: 26.1% on probiotic vs 24.7% on placebo (P = 0.72); diarrhea and vomiting duration did not differ.
- Design
- RCT, n = 886, 2018
- Population
- Children 3 to 48 months old with gastroenteritis at six Canadian emergency departments
- Form
- L. rhamnosus R0011 plus L. helveticus R0052
- Dose
- 4 billion CFU twice a day
- Duration
- 5 days
- Source
- Reference 9 · PubMed 30462939 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectWellbeing and anxiety in healthy adultsMoodNo overall benefitRCT
n 135 · 2023
No effect No significant effects in the whole sample; only people with healthy lifestyle scores showed better anxiety and emotional-regulation results in a modeling analysis.
- Design
- RCT, n = 135, 2023
- Population
- Healthy adults in Chile
- Form
- L. helveticus R0052 plus B. longum R0175
- Dose
- Daily stick (dose not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 37049546 (opens PubMed)
∅No effect24-hour blood pressure with lactotripeptide milkBlood pressureNo significant effectRCT
n 89 · 2012
No effect 5 mg a day did not lower blood pressure; 50 mg lowered it from baseline, but the differences vs placebo (-2.6/-1.3 mm Hg) were not significant.
- Design
- RCT, n = 89, 2012
- Population
- Adults with mild hypertension in Finland
- Form
- L. helveticus LBK-16H fermented milk drink
- Dose
- 5 mg then 50 mg lactotripeptides a day
- Duration
- 3 months per dose
- Source
- Reference 11 · PubMed 22617279 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectMood, stress and anxiety in adults with low moodMoodNo benefitRCT
n 79 · 2017
No effect No difference from placebo on any psychological score (Cohen's d 0.07 to 0.16) or blood marker; responders were 23% vs 26% on placebo.
- Design
- RCT, n = 79, 2017
- Population
- Adults in New Zealand with at least moderate low mood, not on psychiatric drugs
- Form
- L. helveticus plus B. longum
- Dose
- Daily (dose not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 28068788 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Mood results lean on one positive trial
Capsules and fermented milk are different products
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Lactobacillus helveticus meets
2 cited rows 6 tested togetherMedicines 2
Supplements and foods 1
- Drug label or FDA notice
- Tested together in a graded trial
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited: 6 tested together
Antibiotics
Drug labelDrug label or FDA notice
Antibiotics, for example any oral antibiotic course: Health Canada's probiotics monograph directs that bacterial probiotics be used at least 2–3 hours before or after antibiotics.
Source 1, Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (2026)
Immunosuppressive treatment
Drug labelDrug label or FDA notice
Immunosuppressive treatment, for example long-term corticosteroids: Health Canada lists an immune-compromised condition, including long-term corticosteroid treatment, as a contraindication for probiotics; NCCIH and ODS say harmful effects are more likely in people with compromised immune systems.
Source 1, Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (2026); Source 2, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) (2019); Source 14, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (2025)
Bifidobacterium longumBifidobacterium longum page
Tested together
Depression scores in major depressive disorder. Graded on the Lactobacillus helveticus page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Tested together
Mood, stress and anxiety in adults with low mood. Graded on the Lactobacillus helveticus page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Tested together
Wellbeing and anxiety in healthy adults. Graded on the Lactobacillus helveticus page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Tested together
Depression scores alongside usual treatment. Graded on the Lactobacillus helveticus page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Tested together
Psychological distress in healthy volunteers. Graded on the Lactobacillus helveticus page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Tested together
Hormones and oxidative stress in PCOS. Graded on the Lactobacillus helveticus page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Interactions
2 agents| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines2 | ||
| Antibioticse.g. any oral antibiotic course | Health Canada's probiotics monograph directs that bacterial probiotics be used at least 2–3 hours before or after antibiotics.1 | Drug label |
| Immunosuppressive treatmente.g. long-term corticosteroids | Health Canada lists an immune-compromised condition, including long-term corticosteroid treatment, as a contraindication for probiotics; NCCIH and ODS say harmful effects are more likely in people with compromised immune systems.1214 | Drug label |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Lactobacillus helveticus and your picks, and between your picks.
- Loading names…
Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Lactobacillus helveticus.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
4 groups- Immune-compromised conditions
- Health Canada's probiotic monograph: do not use if you have an immune-compromised condition (for example AIDS, lymphoma, or long-term corticosteroid treatment).1
- Fever or severe gut symptoms
- Health Canada: ask a health care practitioner before use if you have fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea or severe abdominal pain, and stop if digestive upset occurs, worsens or lasts beyond 3 days.1
Where to buy Lactobacillus helveticus
Products from brands we partner with that contain Lactobacillus helveticus. Check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
Lactobacillus helveticus products from partner brands
1 product Paid links · we earn a commission- HerbsProLife Extension FLORASSIST Mood Improve, 30 Veg Tabs
1 tablet: 3 billion CFU blend of L. helveticus Rosell-52 and B. longum Rosell-175 (the trial pair) plus 30 mg saffron extract, which the cited trials did not include
$23.25one-timeChecked Oct 15, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
6 answersDoes Lactobacillus helveticus help depression?
Does it help stress or anxiety in healthy people?
Does L. helveticus lower blood pressure?
Is it safe?
Can it be used with antibiotics or antidepressants?
Health Canada's probiotic monograph directs spacing bacterial probiotics at least 2–3 hours from antibiotics. The 58-person pilot added the probiotic to usual antidepressant care and the Polish trial included people already on antidepressants; the NCCIH and ODS fact sheets list no drug-interaction studies for probiotics.1713214
Does it help children with stomach bugs?
No. In 886 children, R0052 with L. rhamnosus R0011 did no better than placebo for moderate-to-severe illness.9
Sources
15 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
15 sources- 1Probiotics (Natural Health Product monograph, April 24, 2026)Guideline Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate, 2026 · webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca
- 2Probiotics: Usefulness and SafetyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov
- 3Assessment of psychotropic-like properties of a probiotic formulation (Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175) in rats and human subjects.RCT Br J Nutr, 2011 · PMID 20974015
- 4A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum for the symptoms of depression.RCT Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 2017 · PMID 28068788
- 5Effect of probiotic and prebiotic vs placebo on psychological outcomes in patients with major depressive disorder: A randomized clinical trial.RCT Clin Nutr, 2019 · PMID 29731182
- 6Psychobiotic Effects on Anxiety Are Modulated by Lifestyle Behaviors: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial on Healthy Adults.RCT Nutrients, 2023 · PMID 37049546
- 7Metabolic Status Influences Probiotic Efficacy for Depression-PRO-DEMET Randomized Clinical Trial Results.RCT Nutrients, 2024 · PMID 38732635
- 8Effects of supplementation with two probiotic strains (Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum) on hormonal status, oxidative stress, and clinical symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized clinical trial.RCT Nutr J, 2025 · PMID 41254712
- 9Multicenter Trial of a Combination Probiotic for Children with Gastroenteritis.RCT N Engl J Med, 2018 · PMID 30462939
- 10Lactobacillus helveticus fermented milk lowers blood pressure in hypertensive subjects in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurement.RCT Am J Hypertens, 2005 · PMID 16364832
- 11Effects of long-term intake of lactotripeptides on cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive subjects.RCT Eur J Clin Nutr, 2012 · PMID 22617279
- 12The effect of Lactobacillus helveticus fermented milk on sleep and health perception in elderly subjects.Crossover RCT Eur J Clin Nutr, 2009 · PMID 17851460
- 13Efficacy of Adjunct PRObiotics as Compared to the Standard Care in Moderate Unipolar Depression Among Geriatric Patients: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Pilot Multi-Center Trial (PRODG).RCT J Am Geriatr Soc, 2026 · PMID 42304935
- 14Probiotics: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (updated March 25, 2025)Fact sheet NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, 2025 · ods.od.nih.gov
- 15Risk of Invasive Disease in Preterm Infants Given Probiotics Formulated to Contain Live Bacteria or YeastSafety communication U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2023 · fda.gov
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
2 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| evidence, interactions, who should avoid, FAQ, sources | Added the 2026 PRODG pilot RCT in older adults with depression (PMID 42304935); added antibiotic-spacing and immunosuppressant interactions from the Health Canada monograph, NCCIH and NIH ODS; added a pregnancy and breastfeeding note (NCCIH, ODS); cited the FDA 2023 preterm-infant safety communication; new interactions FAQ. Fact-checked against the sources; corrected: the interactions FAQ no longer says the Polish depression trial gave the probiotic to everyone on antidepressants (only a subgroup took them). | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z page audit |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, year, journal; none retracted) and each cited abstract read; numbers taken from the abstracts (full text only for the 55 analyzed in the 2011 French trial). Funding disclosed per study: Tehran University of Medical Sciences (2019), Lallemand research funding to the lead author (2017), Chilean public agencies with Rosell-Lallemand product (2023), Medical University of Lodz (2024), CIHR, Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation and Canada Research Chairs (2018); other abstracts name no funder (disclosed as not stated). Nulls shown: low mood 2017, healthy adults 2023, PRO-DEMET main score, children's gastroenteritis 2018, lactotripeptides 2012. Safety rows from the Health Canada Probiotics monograph and NCCIH probiotics page. Where to buy: Life Extension FLORASSIST Mood Improve (label and price checked 2026-10-15; added saffron flagged in the serving note). | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.