Lactobacillus reuteri and bone density
What 2 graded rows on lactobacillus reuteri agree on for bone density, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Lactobacillus reuteri page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Lactobacillus reuteri page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Lactobacillus reuteri and bone density
2 rows · 329 peopleSplit. 1 row found an improvement and 1 found no difference.
- CGrade C× 1
- ∅No effect× 1
- Rows
- 2
- Trials
- 2
- People
- 329
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade C, is a randomized trial of 90 people (2018) and found an improvement. 1 row is graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.
The row that found no difference was larger: 239 people, against 90 people for the row that found an improvement.
The row that found no difference ran longer (2 years) than the row that found an improvement (12 months).
Only the row that found an improvement names older adults in its population.
The row that found no difference is newer (2024) than the row that found an improvement (2018).
The rows
1 improved · 1 no difference- CGrade CTibia volumetric bone density over 12 months · Improved
RCT · n 90 · 2018 · Women aged 75–80 with low bone density
10 billion CFU/day · 12 months
Bone density loss at the tibia was smaller than with placebo (−0.83% vs −1.85%; difference about 1 percentage point). Secondary bone measures moved the same way but were not significant. Adverse events did not differ.
Row on the Lactobacillus reuteri page · PubMed 29926979 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effectTibia volumetric bone density, hip and spine density and bone turnover over 2 years · No difference
RCT · n 239 · 2024 · Early postmenopausal women aged 50–60 (Sweden)
5 × 10^8 or 5 × 10^9 CFU twice daily · 2 years
Bone density fell in all groups with no difference from placebo for either dose, and bone turnover markers did not change. No significant adverse effects.
Row on the Lactobacillus reuteri page · PubMed 38865129 (opens PubMed)