Bacillus licheniformis

Probiotic

What is it

Bacillus licheniformis is a spore-forming, soil-dwelling bacterium used as a probiotic in some human and animal supplements, and as a source of industrial enzymes.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Gut microbial support

Limited Evidence

Small human studies and animal/livestock data support a role in gut microbial balance; high-quality human trials in dietary supplement form are limited.

How it works

As a spore-forming probiotic, B. licheniformis can survive stomach acid and germinate in the small intestine, where it may modulate gut microbial balance, produce antimicrobial peptides, and influence local immune signaling. It has a long history of use in livestock probiotics and is FDA-cleared for some human GI indications in other countries. Human clinical evidence in dietary supplement use is modest and largely focused on antibiotic-associated GI symptoms and gut microbial balance.

Dosage

There is no RDA. Probiotic doses are typically described in CFU; B. licheniformis-containing products often provide 10^7-10^9 CFU/day. DSLD does not provide a median dose for this entry.

When and how to take it

Take with or shortly before a meal. If on antibiotics, space probiotic dosing by 2-3 hours.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Bacillus licheniformis spores (e.g., SL-307)

Marketed primarily as a probiotic ingredient.

Spore form survives gastric acid better than vegetative bacteria.

Safety

Generally well tolerated in healthy adults. Rare invasive infections have been reported in severely immunocompromised individuals with bloodstream-translocating probiotic bacteria; B. licheniformis is regarded as low-risk for healthy users.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in severely immunocompromised individuals, central venous catheter recipients, and critically ill patients without specialist guidance. Pregnancy/breastfeeding data are limited.

Interactions

No major clinically relevant interactions at typical doses. Effects may overlap with antibiotic treatment timing.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bacillus licheniformis safe?⌄

Generally yes for healthy adults at typical probiotic doses. Avoid in severe immunosuppression without medical guidance.

Do I need refrigeration?⌄

Spore-forming Bacillus probiotics are usually shelf-stable at room temperature; check product directions.

References

Bacillus licheniformis on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Bacillus licheniformis on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Bacillus licheniformis (PubMed search) — PubMed link

Track Bacillus licheniformis with Pilora

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.