Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Lp299v)

General information

Lactobacillus plantarum 299v, aka "Lp299v", was identified in a study done at Lund University on the taxonomy of lactobacilli in the GI tract. The authors of that study then published a novel experiment that identified implantable strains of lactobacilli. Instead of testing in a lab, they tested 19 strains in vivo. Subjects ingested a variety of strains, and later biopsies of their intestinal mucosa were examined to determine which had successfully implanted¹. Five of the strains persisted at least one day after administration, with Lp299v being the most dominant.

Lp299v (also known as DSM 9843), along with Lactobacillus rhamnosus 271 (DSM 6594), were patented in the USA in 1995 by the Swedish firm Probi AB (Patent number 5,474,932). The inventors were Stig Bengmark, Siv Ahrné, Göran Molin, and Bengt Jeppson, all of Sweden (most work for Probi AB). This company owns the rights to the strain, which they sell in a fresh juice product throughout Europe called "ProViva". Numerous studies have been conducted on the health benefits of Lp299v; in many it was administered in the form of ProViva.

Availability

Lp299v is available in the USA in two forms that I know of:

• "Probiotic Solutions", capsules sold by Advanced BioSolutions:
  http://www.drsinatra.com/Products2.aspx?ProductID=PB10
• "Goodbelly", a fruit drink with Lp299v made by NextFoods:
  http://www.goodbelly.com/ingredient_faq

Who is Probi AB?

Below is an excerpt from Probi AB's newsletter explaining who they are:

"Probi AB is owned and was established by researchers in 1990 in the research village of Ideon, in Lund, in southern Sweden. The company carries out research into probiotics and their potential use in functional food products. The research started in 1986. There are three research groups associated with Probi AB...

"Product licensing is handled by a subsidiary company, Probi Food AB. This company is owned 60/40 percent by Probi AB and Skånemejerier[a dairy]...The first Probi products, ProViva and Prima Liv, were launched in Sweden by Skånemejerier in 1994. ProViva is an oatmeal-based fruit drink containing Lactobacillus plantarum 299v; research has shown it has a significant, scientifically verifiable effect on the function of the intestine. Prima Liv contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus 271 and is a sour-milk-based product.

"Both L.rhamnosus 271 and L.plantarum 299v are stable bacteria in the product and are documented as surviving the gastrointestinal tract and colonizing the mucus membranes of the intestine."

Probi AB has a website, and there is also a site focusing on ProViva.

My experience

I have used samples of Lp299v and experienced positive results. I support the company behind this strain (Probi AB) because of their commitment to scientific research on probiotics.

References

1. Johansson ML, Molin G, Jeppsson B, Nobaek S, Ahrne S, Bengmark S "Administration of different Lactobacillus strains in fermented oatmeal soup: in vivo colonization of human intestinal mucosa and effect on the indigenous flora" Applied and Environmental Microbiology 59:15-20 Jan 1993

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