Scientists discovered that a type of bacteria found in cheese called Lactobacillus helveticus VEL12193 might help your body’s cells stay healthy by triggering a natural cleaning process called autophagy. Think of autophagy like your cells taking out the trash—it removes damaged parts and keeps everything running smoothly. In this study, researchers tested 11 different bacteria and found that this particular cheese bacteria was the best at turning on this cleaning process. When they gave mice this bacteria as a supplement for a long time, it activated the cleaning process not just in their gut, but also in their eyes. This discovery could eventually help people stay healthier as they age.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether certain bacteria used in food and probiotics can turn on a natural cellular cleaning process called autophagy, and how they do it.
  • Who participated: Laboratory tests with human cells and mice that received long-term dietary supplements of the bacteria.
  • Key finding: A bacteria strain from cheese called Lactobacillus helveticus VEL12193 was the strongest at activating the cellular cleaning process in both gut cells and eye cells, working through tiny packages it releases called membrane vesicles.
  • What it means for you: This suggests that eating fermented foods or taking certain probiotics might help your cells stay cleaner and healthier, potentially supporting healthy aging. However, this is early research, and more studies in humans are needed before making dietary changes.

The Research Details

Researchers took a two-step approach to this study. First, they tested 11 different bacteria strains (types of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) in laboratory dishes with human gut cells to see which ones were best at triggering autophagy—the cellular cleaning process. They measured how well each bacteria activated this process.

Second, they took the winning bacteria strain and tested it in living mice over a long period by adding it to their food. They checked whether the bacteria could activate the cleaning process not just in the gut (where the bacteria lives) but also in distant organs like the eye. This two-step approach helped them confirm that the results from the lab dishes actually worked in living animals.

Testing in both laboratory cells and living animals is important because what works in a dish doesn’t always work in a real body. By doing both types of tests, researchers could be more confident that this bacteria actually has real effects. The fact that the bacteria affected distant organs (like the eye) is particularly interesting because it shows the bacteria’s effects spread throughout the body, not just locally in the gut.

This study combined controlled laboratory experiments with animal testing, which strengthens the findings. The researchers tested multiple bacterial strains to identify the best one, rather than just testing one. They also identified the specific mechanism—tiny packages called membrane vesicles—that the bacteria uses to trigger the cleaning process. However, this research hasn’t yet been tested in humans, so we can’t be certain the same effects would occur in people.

What the Results Show

When researchers tested 11 different bacterial strains, they found that different bacteria had different abilities to trigger autophagy in human gut cells. Some were much better at it than others. The clear winner was Lactobacillus helveticus VEL12193, a bacteria found in cheese, which was the strongest at activating the cellular cleaning process.

When mice were given this bacteria as a long-term dietary supplement, the cleaning process was activated in their gut cells, which makes sense since that’s where the bacteria lives. More impressively, the cleaning process was also activated in their eye cells—an organ far away from the gut. This shows that the bacteria’s effects aren’t limited to just the digestive system.

The researchers discovered how the bacteria works: it releases tiny packages called membrane vesicles that act like messengers, telling cells to turn on their cleaning process. These vesicles contain lactate and certain types of fats that appear to be responsible for triggering autophagy in both gut cells and immune cells.

The study showed that the bacteria’s effects work on multiple types of cells, not just gut cells. The membrane vesicles released by the bacteria were effective at triggering autophagy in immune cells as well, suggesting the bacteria influences the body’s defense system. The involvement of specific molecules like lactate and lipids provides clues about the biological pathway involved.

Previous research has shown that the bacteria in our gut can influence autophagy, and that autophagy is important for preventing diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, brain degeneration, and metabolic problems. This study builds on that knowledge by identifying a specific bacteria strain that’s particularly good at triggering autophagy and explaining the mechanism of how it works. The finding that autophagy can be safely stimulated long-term and may extend lifespan in animals supports the potential value of this approach.

This research was conducted in laboratory cells and mice, not in humans. We don’t yet know if eating this bacteria would have the same effects in people. The study didn’t measure whether the autophagy activation actually led to health benefits or extended lifespan in the mice—it only showed that autophagy was activated. The exact dose needed and how long someone would need to take it aren’t clear. Additionally, individual differences in gut bacteria and genetics might mean the bacteria works differently for different people.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, there’s promising evidence that this specific bacteria strain may support cellular health through autophagy activation. However, this is early-stage research. Current recommendation: This finding is interesting but not yet ready for specific dietary recommendations. More human studies are needed. If you’re interested in supporting autophagy through diet, fermented foods like cheese, yogurt, and sauerkraut are already considered healthy choices for other reasons.

This research is most relevant to people interested in healthy aging, those with inflammatory bowel disease, and people concerned about age-related diseases. It may eventually be relevant to anyone wanting to support cellular health. However, people with compromised immune systems should consult their doctor before taking probiotics. This research doesn’t yet apply to specific patient populations.

In animal studies, long-term supplementation was needed to see effects. In humans, if this bacteria were to be used therapeutically, benefits would likely take weeks to months to appear, not days. This is not a quick-fix solution.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily consumption of fermented foods (cheese, yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi) and note any changes in digestive health, energy levels, or overall wellness over 8-12 weeks. Record quantity and type of fermented food consumed.
  • Add one serving of fermented food to your daily diet—this could be a small portion of cheese, a yogurt, or fermented vegetables. Track this consistently to establish the habit and monitor any personal health changes.
  • Keep a weekly log of fermented food intake and subjective health markers (digestion quality, energy, mood, skin health) over 12 weeks. This personal tracking can help you notice if fermented foods have any effect on how you feel, while understanding that individual responses vary.

This research is preliminary and has not yet been tested in humans. The findings are based on laboratory and animal studies. Do not change your diet or start taking probiotics based solely on this research without consulting your healthcare provider, especially if you have a compromised immune system, are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications. This article is for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making significant dietary changes or starting supplements.