Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG · Lactobacillus GG · LGG

Snapshot

Indications	Contraindications
Pediatric acute diarrhea^{1, 2} Antibiotic-associated diarrhea¹ Pediatric abdominal pain³ Respiratory infections in children⁴ Preterm necrotizing enterocolitis⁵ Cow's milk allergy tolerance⁶	Allergic reaction on use⁷ Severe active colitis⁸

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG is a probiotic strain patented in 1989 for its survival in gastric acid and bile and its adhesion to enterocytes⁹. It acts on the mucosal barrier and on immune signaling⁹. Supplementation is used to reduce diarrhea risk and duration in children².

Meta-analyses found shorter diarrhea duration in children with acute gastroenteritis^{10, 11}, but a large 2018 trial in preschool children found no benefit. In newborns colonized in intensive care, a 2022 controlled study found earlier clearance of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus from the gut¹². Many products listing the strain are sold as capsules, tablets, powders, and liquids; see Form comparison.

A case report of bacteremia in severe active ulcerative colitis concluded that probiotics call for caution when the intestinal mucosa is disrupted⁸. Some United States product labels ask for a physician's advice before use with a medical condition, pregnancy, or nursing⁷.

Last updated October 16, 2026. Read how we make monographs.

In the full monograph

61 sources, 51 studies

When to useThe situations practitioners use it for, each with the reason and the study behind it.
SafetyWho should avoid it, who needs extra care, and the side effects reported in studies.
InteractionsThe medicines and supplements it interacts with, the effect of each, and what labeling says to watch.
Protocol notesThe doses used in studies, how and when they were taken, and how the forms on the market compare.
How it worksWhat it is and how it works in the body, in plain terms.
Published studiesThe studies behind each use, popular claims checked against them, and trials still under way.
Word of mouthWhat patients and practitioners report online, kept separate from the clinical evidence.
Clinical perspectiveA closing read of where the evidence is solid, where it is thin, and what has not been studied.

Snapshot

In the full monograph

Sources