DrFeb
Health Guide

Paenibacillus polymyxa

Paenibacillus polymyxa is a naturally occurring, spore-forming bacterium found in soil and plant roots (the rhizosphere). Unlike standard probiotics that just pass through, this 'soil-based probiotic' creates a tough spore shell that survives harsh stomach acid, reaching your intestines alive. It acts as a 'gut gardener', helping to balance your microbiome, strengthen the gut lining, and even produce natural antibiotics to keep harmful bacteria in check.
Evidence BasedDietary Supplement
Paenibacillus polymyxa
VERIFIED SOURCE

Bio-Activity Analysis

Survival Rate Through Stomach Acid

SCIENTIFIC DATA VISUALIZATION

Y-Axis
Survival Rate (%)
Probiotic Type →

Health Benefits & Sources

Why You Need It

  • Survivability: Survives the harsh acid of your stomach better than most probiotics.
  • Gut Barrier Strength: Helps reinforce the lining of your intestines, preventing 'leaky gut'.
  • Natural Balance: Produces antibiotics that selectively target harmful bacteria while sparing the good.

Deep Dive

Paenibacillus polymyxa is a powerhouse of microbial health. Because it forms a protective endospore, it remains dormant until it reaches the safe environment of your intestines. Once there, it 'wakes up' and gets to work. One of its unique abilities is producing polymyxin E (a natural antibiotic) and various enzymes that help break down food and reduce inflammation. It is particularly helpful for people who have compromised digestion or have taken multiple courses of antibiotics, as it helps re-establish a robust, diverse microbial community.

Natural Food Sources

While you can't easily 'eat' this bacteria directly from dirt, you can consume it by eating root vegetables that haven't been scrubbed perfectly clean, or by eating fermented foods that utilize wild, soil-based fermentation.

Food SourceAmount% DV
Unwashed Root VeggiesTrace<1%
Wild Fermented KimchiModerate~5%
Compost Tea (edible)HighVariable

Supplementation

Dosage: Typical supplements contain 1-5 billion CFUs (Colony Forming Units) daily. Who should take it: Ideal for those with sensitive stomachs who find standard probiotics cause bloating, or those looking to repair gut lining integrity.

Top Food Sources

Unwashed Carrots/Radishes
Eat organic, scrub lightly.
Wild Sauerkraut
Fermented without vinegar.
Compost
Not for consumption, but source of organism.
Spore Probiotic Supplements
Most reliable source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, for healthy individuals, it is safe to take daily. It is even found naturally in trace amounts on unwashed vegetables.
Because it is naturally found in the soil and plant root systems, unlike lactobacillus which is found in fermented dairy.
It is generally less likely to cause bloating than standard probiotics because it stays dormant until it reaches the lower intestines.
No. Because it forms a spore, it is shelf-stable and does not require refrigeration.

Safety & Side Effects

Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA. However, as with all soil-based organisms, caution is advised for those with severely compromised immune systems (e.g., undergoing chemotherapy or organ transplants), as there is a small risk of the bacteria moving from the gut into the bloodstream (bacteremia).

Scientific References

  • [1]Elshaghabee, F. M. F., et al. (2017). Paenibacillus polymyxa: A Probiotic of the Future?.
  • [2]Riaz, S. (2020). Soil-based probiotics and gut health.
  • [3]FDA GRAS Notice No. 731 (Paenibacillus polymyxa)