During the 13th Probiotics, Prebiotics and New Foods Congress, Microbiomepost.com conducted an exclusive interview with Veronica Ojetti, gastroenterologist at San Carlo di Nancy Hospital (Italy).

In this interview, the Ojetti presents findings from a single-center pilot study assessing the effects of Limosilactobacillus reuteri LMG P-27481 on the gut microbiota and selected markers of intestinal barrier function in healthy individuals. The strain is described as patented and characterized by a favorable safety profile (no plasmid transfer and antibiotic susceptibility), with potential anti-inflammatory features including increased interleukin-10. It was administered as drops (5 drops/day) for 28 consecutive days. Twenty healthy volunteers (10 men and 10 women; median age ~35 years) were enrolled at the San Carlo di Nancy Hospital in Rome. Stool samples and gastrointestinal symptom questionnaires were collected at baseline, at the end of treatment, and after a 14-day follow-up period following discontinuation. After 28 days, the interview reports a reduction in intestinal permeability and an improvement in barrier function, consistent with prior evidence suggesting L. reuteri may help modulate permeability. However, 14 days after stopping supplementation, these parameters tended to return toward baseline—interpreted as a reflection of microbiota resilience. 

From a functional standpoint, the interview highlights an increase in short-chain fatty acid production, particularly butyrate, with a reported rise from 10% to 40% after treatment, aligning with a potential anti-inflammatory effect and barrier-supporting activity; this signal also diminished during follow-up. Ojetti also mentions shifts in specific taxa and an increase in tryptophan production, which is framed as consistent with earlier observations proposing a possible “psychobiotic” profile for L. reuteri. Clinically, despite the largely healthy population, the interview points to significant improvements in abdominal bloating and the sensation of gas/air, alongside signs of bowel habit normalization: increased bowel movements in participants reporting constipation and fewer stools in those reporting looser or more frequent bowel habits. 

Overall, these preliminary results suggest beneficial but potentially transient effects, supporting the need for larger studies and for longer or cyclical dosing strategies to evaluate whether benefits can be sustained over time.