LVLV is the finishing variant in our three-week rotation, fermented with live Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 6475. It is one of the most extensively researched L. reuteri strains, studied both for its antipathogenic activity and, intriguingly, for its relationship with the gut–brain axis, including pathways involving the hormone oxytocin. This page is an educational overview of what that research describes.
ATCC PTA 6475 is an L. reuteri strain originally isolated from human breast milk. Like our other strains, it has been studied for its antipathogenic properties, its capacity to coexist with beneficial flora while limiting less-welcome microbes. In laboratory studies it has shown a notable ability to adhere to the gut lining, an area researchers have explored in connection with its broader effects.
The gut–brain axis is the term researchers use for the two-way communication between the gut and the nervous system. It is one of the most active areas of microbiome science: studies have explored how the microbes living in our gut may influence signalling that reaches the brain, and how the brain in turn influences the gut. It is the framework through which scientists investigate the links between gut health and mood, stress, and wellbeing.
Oxytocin is a naturally occurring hormone involved in social bonding, calm, and wellbeing, sometimes informally called the "love hormone." A body of research has investigated whether ATCC PTA 6475 influences oxytocin pathways. In a series of well-known animal studies, this strain was observed to up-regulate oxytocin and produce a range of downstream effects in mice and rats, from faster wound healing to changes in social behaviour and maternal care.
It is important to be clear about what this research is and is not. Most of the oxytocin findings to date come from animal models, and the mechanisms in humans are still being studied. This is a genuine and fascinating area of scientific investigation, described in published literature, not a claim that this yoghurt will affect your mood, hormones, or health. We share it because it is the research that inspired LVLV, and because it is a question our customers often ask about.
Our three strains have each been researched for complementary roles. PRCXN (DSM 17648) is studied in connection with Helicobacter pylori in the stomach; SPCTRL (DSM 17938) is studied for supporting microbial balance further down the gut. LVLV (ATCC PTA 6475) is the strain most associated with the gut–brain axis in research.
We think of LVLV as the finishing note in the rotation: where the first two strains are researched for restoring and balancing the gut environment, LVLV is the one studied in connection with the gut–brain conversation that sits on top of it. Together, the three are intended to be enjoyed in rotation as part of a varied, gut-focused routine.
LVLV is one of the three L. reuteri yoghurts we ferment, each at live counts of over 100 billion CFU per 250 ml bottle, lactose-free and with no added sweeteners. You can read about all three strains on our about page, or browse the yoghurt in our shop.
Independent research relating to L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475:
Important: this page is educational information only. It is not medical advice, and it is not a claim that our yoghurt treats, cures, or prevents any condition, or that it affects mood, hormones, or health. Much of the research described is at an early or animal-model stage. Our products are fermented foods intended to be enjoyed as part of a healthy lifestyle. Original publications are available via PubMed and other open scientific databases. If you are exploring your own gut health, we'd encourage reading primary sources and speaking with a qualified healthcare professional.