The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, led by Yamakawa et al and titled “Effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v on bowel movements in healthy adults with a tendency for loose stools: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group comparison study”(1) demonstrated that daily consumption of LP299V significantly improved bowel habits in healthy adults with a tendency toward loose stools. After eight weeks, participants in the LP299V group showed a significantly lower bowel movement frequency compared to placebo (6.7 vs. 8.1 per week; p=0.034).
The findings extend the strain’s well-documented efficacy into a new study population and highlight the ability of LP299V to deliver clinically meaningful outcomes in a Japanese cohort, including a reduction in bowel movement frequency and a shift towards a more balanced gut environment. The number of days with bowel movements was also significantly reduced (5.3 vs. 6.2 days per week; p=0.011), further supporting normalization of bowel habits. These results further strengthen the strain’s position as one of the most robust and versatile probiotic solutions available for product development.
These effects are supported by LP299V’s well-established ability to survive gastric transit, adhere to the intestinal mucosa and temporarily colonize the gut – key characteristics that enable direct interaction with the host microbiome and intestinal barrier.
Mechanistically, LP299V has been shown to modulate the gut microbiota by promoting the growth of beneficial, short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, including those associated with butyrate production. This is particularly relevant as butyrate plays a central role in maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, regulating inflammation, and supporting normal bowel function.
This milestone is a direct result of Probi’s strategic partnership with Nomura Dairy Products, a pioneer in Japan’s fermented food sector. Together, the two companies have combined scientific excellence with deep market insight to bring LP299V to Japanese consumers in a format tailored to local preferences in a fermented carrot juice under the My Flora brand.
The new clinical evidence moves this collaboration from product innovation to clinically substantiated market leadership and provides partners and customers with powerful, population-specific evidence in a highly discerning and science-driven market.
“By combining Probi’s world-class science with Nomura’s strong local market expertise, we have delivered a clinically validated solution that strongly resonates with Japanese consumers, says Karen Ong, Head of APAC at Probi. “This study marks a significant milestone, reinforcing LP299V’s position as a leading global probiotic strain while demonstrating proven efficacy in the Japanese population. It also highlights how targeted clinical validation can accelerate commercial growth and meet rising consumer demand for credible, science-backed digestive health solutions.”
At a time when regulatory scrutiny is increasing and consumers are demanding greater efficacy and transparency, local clinical validation is rapidly becoming a key differentiator. By investing in region-specific research, Probi is enabling its partners to move beyond generic claims and deliver targeted, evidence-based solutions with stronger credibility and commercial impact.
The achievement also underscores Probi’s long-term commitment to combining global science with local relevance by ensuring that its probiotic strains are not only extensively documented but validated in diverse global populations.
For more information on the study and the partnership between Probi and Nomura Dairy Products, contact the Probi team here.
Source:
(1)Journal of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2025; 82 (1): 429-228 “Effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v on bowel movements in healthy adults with a tendency for loose stools: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group comparison study.” Yamakawa Chiaki et al
