L. reuteri exhibited free radical-scavenging capacity in vitro [35], and encoded various antioxidant enzymes [15]. Studies in animals and humans have shown that oral administration of L. reuteri reduced the incidence and the severity of diarrhea, decreased visceral pain, pre- vented colic and necrotic enterocolitis, maintained a functional mucosal barrier, and induced colonization and immunomodulation [36-39].