Scientists discovered a special type of bacteria called Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BGI-J9 that appears to have powerful health benefits. By studying its complete genetic code and testing it in the lab, researchers found that this bacteria can survive in your digestive system, fight harmful bacteria, protect cells from damage, and most importantly, help break down alcohol in your body. This discovery could lead to new ways to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol consumption, though more testing in humans is still needed before it becomes a real treatment.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a specific probiotic bacteria has health-promoting properties and can help break down alcohol in the body
  • Who participated: This was laboratory research on bacteria itself, not human participants. Scientists analyzed the bacteria’s genetic material and tested its abilities in controlled lab conditions
  • Key finding: The bacteria contains special genes that allow it to break down alcohol into less harmful substances, and it also showed protective and antimicrobial properties in lab tests
  • What it means for you: This research suggests a potential new probiotic that might help reduce alcohol’s harmful effects, but it’s still in early stages. Don’t expect this as a treatment yet—more human studies are needed first

The Research Details

Researchers took a detailed approach by examining the bacteria from two angles: first, they sequenced and analyzed the complete genetic blueprint (genome) of the bacteria to identify which genes it carries, and second, they performed laboratory experiments to test what the bacteria actually does. The genome analysis revealed the bacteria contains about 2,926 genes spread across 3.1 million base pairs of DNA. The lab tests checked whether the bacteria could survive in stomach-like conditions, fight off harmful bacteria, protect cells from oxidative stress (a type of cellular damage), and break down alcohol.

This combined approach is important because it connects what’s written in the bacteria’s genetic code to what it actually does in practice. By identifying the specific genes responsible for alcohol breakdown, scientists can better understand the mechanism and potentially develop targeted applications. This type of research provides the foundation needed before moving to human trials.

This is foundational laboratory research published in a reputable microbiology journal. The strength of this work lies in the complete genome sequencing and multiple lab assays testing different properties. However, the main limitation is that all testing was done in controlled laboratory conditions, not in living organisms or humans. The bacteria’s actual effectiveness in a real human body remains unknown at this stage.

What the Results Show

The bacteria’s complete genetic code was successfully sequenced and analyzed. Scientists identified specific genes responsible for several health-promoting functions: genes that help the bacteria survive in acidic stomach environments, genes that produce antimicrobial compounds (plantaricin) to fight harmful bacteria, and genes that produce antioxidant proteins to protect cells from damage. Most notably, the researchers discovered genes encoding alcohol-degrading enzymes—specifically alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. When tested in the lab, the bacteria demonstrated the ability to break down alcohol, converting it into less harmful substances.

Beyond alcohol degradation, the bacteria showed several other beneficial properties in laboratory tests. It demonstrated good survival in simulated gastrointestinal conditions, suggesting it could survive the journey through the human digestive system. It showed antimicrobial activity against harmful bacteria and antioxidant activity that could protect cells from oxidative damage. These multiple properties suggest the bacteria could be a multi-functional probiotic with several potential health benefits.

Probiotics have been studied for decades, and many strains are known to support digestive health and immunity. However, the specific combination of alcohol-degrading capability with other probiotic properties appears to be a notable finding for this particular strain. This adds to the growing body of research showing that different probiotic bacteria have specialized functions beyond basic digestive support.

This research was entirely conducted in laboratory conditions using test tubes and controlled environments—not in living animals or humans. The bacteria’s actual performance inside a human body could differ significantly from lab results. Additionally, the study doesn’t specify sample sizes for the various tests performed, making it difficult to assess statistical reliability. No human trials have been conducted, so we don’t know if these benefits would actually occur in people or what the appropriate dosage would be.

The Bottom Line

At this stage, this research is too preliminary to recommend using this specific bacteria as a treatment. It shows promise and warrants further investigation, but human clinical trials are necessary before it could be considered for medical use. If you’re interested in probiotics generally, consult your healthcare provider about established probiotic strains with proven human benefits.

This research is most relevant to scientists and medical researchers developing new probiotic treatments. People concerned about alcohol’s health effects might find this interesting as a potential future option, but it’s not ready for practical use. Healthcare providers should be aware of this emerging research but shouldn’t recommend this specific strain to patients yet.

This is very early-stage research. Even if human trials begin soon, it typically takes 5-10 years for a new probiotic to move from laboratory discovery through clinical testing to potential commercial availability. Don’t expect this to become available as a treatment in the near term.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Once this probiotic becomes available and approved, users could track daily consumption and monitor alcohol intake alongside digestive health markers (bloating, energy levels, digestion quality) using a 1-10 scale to assess personal response
  • In the future, if approved, users could set reminders to take the probiotic supplement consistently and log alcohol consumption to correlate with any changes in how they feel the next day
  • Long-term tracking could include weekly summaries of alcohol consumption, digestive comfort, energy levels, and any hangover symptoms to identify patterns and personal effectiveness over months of use

This research describes laboratory findings only and has not been tested in humans. The bacteria described is not currently available as a commercial product or medical treatment. Do not attempt to self-treat alcohol-related health issues with unproven remedies. If you have concerns about alcohol consumption or its health effects, consult a qualified healthcare provider. This article is for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or probiotic, especially if you take medications or have existing health conditions.