Lactobacillus Acidophilus

Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) is a "friendly" bacteria (called a probiotic) that inhabits the intestines and vagina. It helps prevent bacterial disease, partly through the production of lactic acid. L. acidophilus also produces lactase, the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar (lactose) into simple sugars.

Uses

L. acidophilus offers a variety of potential therapeutic uses. These include the following.

• Replacing the friendly intestinal bacteria destroyed by broad-spectrum antibiotics; these bacteria aid digestion and help suppress disease-causing bacteria
• Reducing the recurrence rate of lower urinary tract infections and cystitis (bladder inflammation)
• Improving lactose absorption in people with lactose intolerance
• Preventing recurring vaginal infections
• Treating yeast infections and intestinal yeast overgrowth and its symptoms, including diarrhea
• Possibly enhancing immune functions in immunocompromised individuals
• Aiding the production of some B vitamins and vitamin K, and aiding in the breakdown of food
• Alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome

Dietary Sources

The primary dietary sources of L. acidophilus include the following.

• Acidophilus milk
• Yogurt (with live L. acidophilus)
• Miso
• Tempeh
• Fermented dairy products

Other Forms

L. acidophilus preparations are dried or liquid cultures of living bacteria, usually grown in a milk base but sometimes grown in milk-free cultures. L. acidophilus is available in the following forms.

• Freeze-dried granules
• Freeze-dried powders
• Freeze-dried capsules
• Liquid L. acidophilus preparations (refrigerated)

How to Take It

Recommended doses of L. acidophilus vary depending on the health condition being treated. The following list provides guidelines for the most common uses.

• Prevention or treatment of diarrhea: one to two billion viable cells per day (some experts recommend up to ten billion cells per day)
• Vaginal infections: eight ounces of yogurt daily or an oral daily supplement containing one to two billion live organisms
• Cystitis: one to two capsules or tablets inserted into the vagina nightly for two weeks
• Maintaining normal intestinal flora: one to ten billion viable cells per day, continuously

Precautions

Mild gastrointestinal upset may occur in some individuals (not on antibiotic therapy) who take more than one to two billion L. acidophilus cells per day.

Possible Interactions

Lactobacillus acidophilus may interfere with the body’s ability to use sulfasalazine. The clinical significance of this information is unknown at this time.

Supporting Research

Donnet-Hughes A, et al. Modulation of nonspecific mechanisms of defense by lactic acid bacteria: effective dose. J Dairy Sci. May 1999; 82(5):863-869.

Galland L. The Four Pillars of Healing. New York: Random House; 1997: 186, 199.

Gotz V, et al. Prophylaxis against ampicillin-associated diarrhea with a lactobacillus preparation. Am J Hosp Pharm. Jun 1979; 36(6): 754-757.

Hill MJ. Role of Gut Bacteria in Human Toxicology and Pharmacology. London:Taylor & Francis; 1995: 263-269.

Hilton E, et al. Ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus as prophylaxis for candidal vaginitis. Ann Intern Med. Mar 1 1992;116(5): 353-357.

Hove H, et al. Lactic acid bacteria and the human gastrointestinal tract. Eur J Clin Nutr. May 1999; 53(5): 339-350.

Jang T, Saviano DA. In vitro fermentation by human colonic bacteria is modified by Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation. J Nutr. Aug 1997; 127(8): 1489-1495.

Michetti P, et al. Effect of whey-based culture supernatant of Lactobacillus acidophilus (johnsonii) La1 on Helicobacter pylori infection in humans. Digestion. 1999; 60(3): 203-209.

Murray MT, Pizzorno J. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. 2^nd ed. Rocklin: Prima Publishing; 1998: 285-291, 431-439, 818-825.

Mustapha A, et al. Improvement of lactose digestion by humans following ingestion of unfermented acidiphilus milk: influence of bile sensitivity, lactose transport, and acid tolerance of Lactobacillus acidophilus. J Dairy Sci. Aug 1997; 80(8): 1537-1545.

Pradhan A, Majumdar MK. Metabolism of some drugs by intestinal lactobacilli and their toxicological considerations. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol (Copenh). Jan 1986; 58(1): 11-15.

Rani B, Khetarpaul N. Probiotic fermented food mixtures: possible applications in clinical anti-diarrhoea usage. Nutr Health. 1998; 12(2): 97-105.

Reid G, et al. Is there a role for lactobacilli in prevention of urogenital and intestinal infections? Clin Microbiol Rev. Oct 1990; 3(4): 335-344.

Schiffrin EJ, et al. Immune modulation of blood leukocytes in humans by lactic acid bacteria: criteria for strain selection. Am J Clin Nutr. Aug 1997; 66(2): 515S-520S.

Shalev E, et al. Ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus compared with pasteurized yogurt as prophylaxis for recurrent candidal vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Arch Fam Med. Nov-Dec 1996; 5(10): 593-596.

Tejada-Simon MV, et al. Ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium to potentiate immunoglobulin A responses to cholera toxin in mice. J Dairy Sci. Apr 1999; 82(4): 649-660.

Tihole F. Possible treatment of AIDS patients with live lactobacteria. Med Hypothesis. May 1988; 26(1): 85-88.

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