This page is for healthcare professionals.
It contains scientific information about Bacillus subtilis HU58™ intended for doctors, dietitians, nutritionists, pharmacists and other qualified practitioners.
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A clinically studied, spore-forming strain, delivered in a fermented food rather than a capsule.
Request samples or the specification sheetRead our founder’s feature on the science of fermented juice: Fruit Juice FOCUS, Issue 57, May/June 2026, pages 12–17.
The strain in every CECII shot: Bacillus subtilis HU58™, at 2 billion CFU per 60 ml.
These studies are on the strain, not on the finished CECII product.
What the studies show over time
When results appeared in human studies on HU58™, alone or in blends. Populations and endpoints differ; these are not studies of the finished CECII product.
Daily stools fell from 7–8 to 1–2, against 3–4 on placebo. Stool consistency improved significantly (p<0.0001).
Post-prandial endotoxin 42% lower and triglycerides 24% lower.
IL-6 and TNF-α reduced by 45% and 55% from baseline.
Lower triglycerides than placebo; 35% lower visceral fat; lower PASI, DLQI and TNF-α.
Most outcomes were measured at 8–12 weeks, so we recommend 12 weeks of daily use before judging results. Individual responses vary.
The strain at a glance
| Strain | Bacillus subtilis HU58™, a spore-forming probiotic |
| Origin | Isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of healthy human volunteers (Hong et al., 2009) |
| In CECII | 2 billion CFU per 60 ml shot; about 1 billion per 30 ml |
| Dose | 1 billion CFU a day as a probiotic dose; 2 billion CFU a day as the clinically tested dose |
| Published record | 25 publications involving HU58™, alone or in a blend; 12 human clinical studies |
| In the market | Used in supplements since 2013 |
| Safety | Toxicology studies on HU58™ (Thao et al., 2011; Gatne, 2014) |
| Form | Spore. Shown to survive simulated gastric fluid and to germinate in the gut (Permpoonpattana et al., 2012; Tam et al., 2006) |
Human studies on HU58™ alone
| Study | Design | Population | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mehta et al., 2020. The Indian Practitioner 73(4): 22–28 | Open-label, placebo-controlled | 60 adults aged 18 to 65 with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (30 per group) | Stool consistency improved by day 15 (p<0.0001), with no significant change on placebo. Stool frequency fell from 7–8 to 1–2 a day, against 3–4 a day on placebo |
| Sorensen et al., 2026. Beneficial Microbes 17(1) | Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled | 68 children aged 1 to 12 with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea | The newest HU58™-alone trial, in children. Full results in the paper |
| Yossef et al., 2020. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2020: 1463108 | Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging pilot | Adults with a history of elevated blood ammonia, on stable lactulose | Safe and well tolerated; reduction in blood ammonia in participants with elevated baseline |
| Dound et al., 2017. The Indian Practitioner 70(9) | Open-label, single arm | 18 healthy adults aged 18 to 65 | Inflammatory markers IL-6 and TNF-α reduced by 45% and 55% from baseline after 8 weeks; well tolerated |
Dound et al. is an open-label pilot without a placebo group.
Human studies on blends containing HU58™
MegaSporeBiotic® contains five Bacillus strains including HU58™. MegaDuo® contains HU58™ and Bacillus coagulans SC208. Findings relate to the blend, not to HU58™ alone.
| Study | Blend | Design | Population | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McFarlin et al., 2017. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 8(3): 117–126 | MegaSporeBiotic® | Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled | 75 healthy adults screened; those with a post-meal endotoxin response were randomised | After 30 days, post-prandial endotoxin was 42% lower and triglycerides 24% lower with the blend |
| Campbell et al., 2020. Integr Med 19(2): 22–27 | MegaSporeBiotic® | Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled | 80 adults with non-fasting triglycerides above 150 mg/dL | Significant lowering of triglycerides after 90 days compared with placebo |
| Dhongade et al., 2022. Pediatric Infectious Disease 4(3) | MegaDuo® | Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre | 64 children aged 1 to 12: 32 with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, 32 with acute infective diarrhoea | Mean duration of diarrhoea 3.2 versus 4.8 days and 3.3 versus 4.4 days on placebo; improved stool consistency; no adverse events |
| McFarlin et al., 2022. Genes Nutr 17: 15 | MegaDuo® with prebiotic | Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled | 15 adults with BMI of 25 or over (8 active, 7 placebo) | After 90 days, visceral fat was 35% lower with no change in body weight; changes in inflammatory gene expression |
| Catinean et al., 2019. Nutrients 11(9) | MegaSporeBiotic® | Prospective, randomised, controlled | 90 adults with non-constipation IBS (30 per group) | Symptom severity similar to rifaximin followed by a nutraceutical or a low-FODMAP diet; greater improvement in quality of life |
| Rybak et al., 2023. J Clin Med 12(3): 895 | MegaSporeBiotic® | Single-blind, placebo-controlled pilot (placebo 4 weeks, then probiotic 4 weeks) | 25 adults, 7 with mild to moderate acne | In the acne group, total acne lesions fell 37% after 4 weeks, with significant falls in total and non-inflammatory lesions. Sebum (primary outcome) did not change significantly |
| Mehta et al., 2020. Biomed J Sci Tech Res 29(4) | MegaDuo® | Open-label, randomised, placebo-controlled | 75 adults with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (25 per group) | Stool consistency improved significantly in both probiotic groups (p<0.0001), not on placebo; less abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence |
| Buhaș et al., 2023. Int J Mol Sci | MegaSporeBiotic® with prebiotic | Open-label, controlled, single centre | 63 adults with psoriasis vulgaris (42 intervention, 21 control) | After 12 weeks, PASI and DLQI scores fell significantly (p<0.001); lower TNF-α; shifts in gut microbiota |
The rest of the formula
The strain is one part. Each shot pairs it with a fermented base and a prebiotic fibre: the bacteria and the fibre they feed on, in one serving.
Fermented base
1.65 g
organic acids per shot
40%
less fructose than before fermentation
Carrot & Ginger, laboratory analysis. Beet & Berry not yet tested.
Prebiotic fibre
3 g
chicory inulin (Orafti® HSI) per shot
Paired with HU58™ as a synbiotic: a probiotic and a prebiotic in one serving. Most UK adults eat less than the recommended 30 g of fibre a day; each shot adds 3 g.*
Vitamin C
Added after fermentation. Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
*The authorised health claim for chicory inulin (normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency) requires 12 g a day. CECII provides 3 g per shot, so we do not make that claim.
Research on the fermentation method
Laboratory and animal research on lacto-fermented juices, not on CECII. Summarised in our founder’s feature in Fruit Juice FOCUS, May/June 2026.
| Study | Substrate | Type | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liu et al., 2022. Frontiers in Nutrition | Carrot juice | Laboratory, with a 4-week study in mice | GABA content rose about eight-fold after fermentation (2.3 to 18.7 mg per 100 ml); in mice, time to fall asleep was 35% shorter |
| Daliri et al., 2023. LWT – Food Science and Technology | Beetroot juice | Laboratory | 73% alpha-glucosidase inhibition when fermented at 42°C, against 52% at 30°C |
| Jakubczyk et al., 2023. Foods | Beetroot juice | Laboratory | Total phenolic content up 28% after fermentation; betalains kept at 85–90% of fresh levels |
| Kumari et al., 2022. Frontiers in Microbiology | Strains from fermented beetroot | Laboratory and diabetic rat model | Over 8 weeks, fasting blood glucose was 42% lower than in untreated diabetic rats, with improved insulin sensitivity |
| Han et al., 2025. Food Reviews International | Multiple fruit and vegetable juices | Review | Total phenolic content up 15–40% and antioxidant activity up 20–150% after controlled fermentation |
How the strain survives: laboratory evidence
| Study | Type | What was examined |
|---|---|---|
| Tam et al., 2006. J Bacteriol 188: 2692–2700 | Animal | Germination and growth of Bacillus spores in the gut |
| Hong et al., 2009. Res Microbiol 160: 134–143 | Laboratory | Bacillus subtilis isolated from the human gastrointestinal tract |
| Permpoonpattana et al., 2012. Benef Microbes 3(2): 127–135 | Animal and laboratory | Probiotic traits of B. subtilis strains and their potential as a food ingredient |
| Marzorati et al., 2021. Appl Sci 11(24): 11963 | Laboratory (M-SHIME®) | Food products containing prebiotics and HU58™: effect on gut microbial activity and composition |
| Fajardo-Cavazos & Nicholson, 2021. Front Microbiol 12: 748950 | Laboratory | Shelf life and survival in simulated gastric and intestinal fluid |
HU58™ in CECII
- Added after fermentation to a fermented fruit and vegetable base with chicory inulin and Vitamin C.
- No added sugar. Contains naturally occurring sugars from the fruit and vegetables.
- 2 billion CFU per 60 ml shot. Counted by our strain supplier at 4°C: at least 2.27 billion CFU per 60 ml at every time point to six months.
- Keep refrigerated. Recommended serving: from 30 ml a day.
- CECII is a food. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Our own research
We’re designing a study of CECII itself, the finished product, with a UK university.
If you’d like to hear when the study opens, or to discuss collaborating, email team@ceciihealth.com.
Contact
For product specifications, samples or practitioner enquiries: team@ceciihealth.com
Last reviewed October 2026.