I’ve been experimenting with something interesting lately that I wanted to share with you – a specific probiotic strain called L. fermentum.
If you enjoyed my previous deep-dives on L. Rhamnosus and the GABA-A and TMAO genes, you might find this one fascinating too.
What Makes L. Fermentum Special?
Unlike your average probiotic, L. fermentum has a unique superpower: it’s a glutathione-producing powerhouse.
If you’re not familiar with glutathione, it’s often called the body’s “master antioxidant” and plays a crucial role in immune function and detoxification.
This means it helps neutralize oxidative stress, detoxify harmful substances, and regulate immune function—all critical for reducing chronic inflammation and supporting long-term health.
This specific strain was originally isolated from human saliva in Estonia (random fact!) and each capsule typically contains about 4 billion CFUs, though I’ve been experimenting with much higher doses (more on that in a moment).
The Science Behind It
What grabbed my attention about L. fermentum were the clinical trials showing its benefits:
- Enhanced Immune Response: In one study, people who took this probiotic along with their flu vaccine showed increased immunoglobulin levels (IgA and IgM) and fewer influenza-like illnesses in the following five months. Your immune system essentially gets an upgrade!
- Reduced Inflammation: A placebo-controlled trial with ulcerative colitis patients found that L. fermentum significantly decreased inflammatory markers in the colon, including IL-6, TNF, and NF-Kappa Beta.
Here’s where genetics gets fascinating. L. fermentum appears to directly influence two critical genes that control your immune response and inflammation levels.
How?
Glutathione is a key regulator of immune balance, helping to control inflammation by influencing IL-10 and TNF levels. Low glutathione has been linked to increased oxidative stress and chronic inflammation—so if your body struggles with IL-10 production or overproduces TNF, boosting glutathione with L. fermentum could be a game-changer.
IL-10, Cytokines and Inflammation
This gene controls production of Interleukin-10, your body’s primary anti-inflammatory cytokine. It’s essentially your internal “fire extinguisher” for excessive inflammation.
Without enough IL-10, your immune system can become overactive, leading to chronic inflammation and increased susceptibility to inflammatory conditions.
I carry a genetic variant that predisposes me to typical IL-10 levels, meaning my body is likely to regulate inflammation effectively.
That’s where Lactobacillus fermentum comes in.
Research shows that this probiotic strain boosts IL-10 production, effectively supporting your body’s anti-inflammatory pathways.
By increasing IL-10, L. fermentum may help restore immune balance, mitigate excessive inflammation, and promote resilience against stressors that trigger immune overactivation.
For someone like me—who’s genetically wired for typical IL-10—I might not need L. fermentum as much as someone carrying the negative variant.
If you carry variants affecting IL-10, this probiotic could be particularly beneficial.
TNF Gene and Chronic Inflammation
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) is one of the body’s most potent pro-inflammatory cytokines—a molecular switch that activates immune responses.
While essential for fighting infections, excessive TNF activity can drive chronic inflammation, increasing the risk of autoimmune conditions, joint pain, and metabolic dysfunction.
L. fermentum has been demonstrated to decrease TNF levels in clinical trials, which is exactly what you want if you carry genetic variants that predispose you to higher TNF activity.
This could explain why some people experience more dramatic anti-inflammatory effects from this probiotic than others.
Similar to IL-10, I carry variants that put me in the typical likelihood category.
The fascinating part? Your specific combination of IL-10 and TNF gene variants creates a unique “inflammatory fingerprint” that determines exactly how YOU might respond to L. fermentum.
And my personal experiment shows that.
My Personal Experiment
I’ve been “megadosing” this probiotic – taking around 20 capsules daily (that’s about 80 billion CFUs) spread across 4-5 doses.
I haven’t noticed dramatic effects yet, which makes sense if you look at my genes.
I’m continuing to experiment and tracking potential benefits to my immune function and gut health.
Since L. fermentum boosts glutathione, I’m also interested in tracking its effects on oxidative stress and detoxification over time.
For context, my genetic profile shows I’m more susceptible to gastrointestinal infections, flu, and have some gut inflammation markers I’m working on optimizing, and this probiotic might help with that, which is why I’m still trying it out.
Want To Know What Works Best For YOUR Genes?
While L. fermentum has general benefits, knowing how it might specifically work with YOUR unique genetic profile can make all the difference.
That’s why I created SelfDecode – to help you understand how supplements like this interact with your specific DNA variants. Our platform analyzes over 200 million genetic variants and provides personalized recommendations for optimizing your health.
What does your genetic analysis reveal?
>> FIND YOUR PERFECT PROBIOTIC MATCH WITH SELFDECODE TODAY
