Acidophilus (Lactobacillus)

Lactobacillus is a type of bacteria. There are lots of different species of lactobacillus. These are "friendly" bacteria that normally live in our digestive, urinary, and genital systems without causing disease. Lactobacillus is also in some fermented foods like yogurt and in dietary supplements.

Lactobacillus is taken by mouth to treat and prevent diarrhea, including infectious types such as rotaviral diarrhea in children and traveler's diarrhea. It is also taken by mouth to prevent and treat diarrhea associated with using antibiotics.

Some people take lactobacillus by mouth for general digestion problems, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colic in babies, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), inflammation of the colon, too much bacterial growth in the intestines, constipation, to improve outcomes after bowel surgery, and to prevent a serious gut problem called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in babies born prematurely.

Lactobacillus is also taken by mouth for infection with Helicobacter pylori, the type of bacteria that causes ulcers, and also for other types of infections including urinary tract infections (UTIs), vaginal yeast infections, to prevent the common cold and flu, to prevent ear infections in children, and to prevent respiratory infections in children attending daycare centers and in children with cystic fibrosis.

It is also taken by mouth for weight loss, rheumatoid arthritis, dental cavities, dental plaque, gum disease, and mouth sores. It is also being tested to prevent serious infections in people on ventilators.

Lactobacillus is taken by mouth for skin disorders such as fever blisters, canker sores, and acne. It is also used to treat or prevent eczema (allergic dermatitis), sensitivity to sun exposure (polymorphous light eruption), sensitivity to environmental allergens, and hay fever in infants and children.

It is also taken by mouth for high cholesterol, swine flu, HIV/AIDS, lactose intolerance, Lyme disease, hives, to prevent cancer, and to boost the immune system.

Women sometimes use lactobacillus suppositories to treat vaginal infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

How does it work?

Many bacteria and other organisms live in our bodies normally. "Friendly" bacteria such as Lactobacillus can help us break down food, absorb nutrients, and fight off "unfriendly" organisms that might cause diseases such as diarrhea.

Diarrhea in children caused by a certain virus (rotavirus).
Hayfever.
Preventing diarrhea caused by antibiotics.
Eczema (atopic dermatitis).
A condition associated with an increased risk for developing allergic reactions (atopic disease).
Treating vaginal infections caused by bacteria (bacterial vaginosis).
Preventing diarrhea due to cancer treatment (chemotherapy).
Diarrhea.
Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection.
High cholesterol.
Colic in babies.
Treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Inflamed mouth sores from cancer treatment (oral mucositis).
Inflammation of an artificial rectum surgically created in people with inflammatory bowel disease (pouchitis).
Lung infections.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Preventing diarrhea due to traveling.
Treating a bowel condition called ulcerative colitis.

Adults

By Mouth:

For hayfever: At least 2 billion Lactobacillus paracasei daily for 7 weeks has been used along with 10 mg of loratadine once daily for 5 weeks.

For preventing diarrhea caused by antibiotics: A specific beverage (Actimel, Danone) containing Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and Streptococcus thermophilus (Actimel, Danone) 97 mL has been taken twice daily. Also, a combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium BB-12, a total of 2 billion live cells, has been taken twice daily for 14 days.

For eczema (atopic dermatitis): A specific strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus GG (Culturelle), has been used. Also, 100 million CFU of Lactobacillus reuteri has been used daily starting at week 36 of pregnancy until delivery.

For a condition associated with an increased risk for developing allergic reactions (atopic disease): Ten to 20 billion CFU of Lactobacillus GG has been used daily for 2-4 weeks before delivery.

For treating vaginal infections caused by bacteria (bacterial vaginosis): 150 mL of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus has been used daily for 2 months.

For preventing diarrhea due to cancer treatment (chemotherapy): Ten to 20 billion CFU of a specific strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus GG, has been used daily in two divided doses during 24 weeks of chemotherapy.

For Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection: A yogurt containing one billion CFU Lactobacillus gasseri has been used twice daily for 4 to 8 weeks alone or with antibiotics. A specific product (Lacteol Fort, Bruschettini s.r.l., Genoa, Italy) containing Lactobacillus acidophilus has been taken three times daily for 10 days along with antibiotics. Other combinations of Lactobacillus strains and antibiotics have also been used.

For high cholesterol: A mixture of three strains of Lactobacillus plantarum containing a total daily dose of 1.2 billion live cells has been used for 12 weeks. Also, specific yogurt or specific capsules containing 2.9 to 50 billion live cells of Lactobacillus reuteri (strain NCIMB 30242; Cardioviva, Micropharma Limited) have been used daily for 6 to 9 weeks.

For irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): A specific product containing 10 billion organisms of Lactobacillus acidophilus (Lacteol Fort) has been used daily for 6 weeks. Also, a specific beverage containing Lactobacillus plantarum (ProViva, Skanemejerier, Sweden) has been taken in doses of 125-200 mL once or twice daily, or capsules containing 10 billion CFU Lactobacillus plantarum once daily, for 4 weeks.

For inflamed mouth sores from cancer treatment (oral mucositis): Lozenges containing Lactobacillus brevis have been dissolved in the mouth every 2-3 hours up to six times daily during chemotherapy and continuing until one week after.

Inflammation of an artificial rectum surgically created in people with inflammatory bowel disease (pouchitis): A combination probiotic containing, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus species (VSL#3), has been taken twice daily for up to one year. A specific formulation (Trilac, Allergon AB, Angelholm, Sweden) containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum, has been taken in doses of two capsules three times daily for 9 months.

For rheumatoid arthritis: One hundred million CFU of Lactobacillus casei have been used daily for 8 weeks.
For traveler's diarrhea: Two billion CFU of a specific strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus GG, has been used daily, starting two days before traveling and continuing until the end of the trip.

For a bowel condition called ulcerative colitis: A specific product (Profermin, Nordisk Rebalance), containing 100 million colony forming units (CFUs)/mL of the specific probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum has been taken twice daily for 8 weeks. Also, 3 grams of another combination probiotic containing Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus (VSL#3) has been used twice daily for maintenance therapy.

Applied Inside the Vagina:

For treating vaginal infections caused by bacteria: One to two vaginal tablets (Gynoflor, Medinova, Switzerland) daily containing living Lactobacillus acidophilus (10 million colon-forming units/tablet) and 0.3 mg estriol for 6 days. Intravaginal suppositories containing 100 million to 1 billion colony forming units of Lactobacillus acidophilus (Vivag, Pharma Vinci A/S, Denmark) given twice daily for 6 days has also been used.

Children

By Mouth:

For children with rotaviral diarrhea: Five to 10 billion live Lactobacillus GG in a solution that replaces lost water has been used. Also, 10 to100 billion live Lactobacillus reuteri daily for up to 5 days has been used. Lower doses might not be as effective.

For hayfever: Ten billion cells of Lactobacillus johnsonii, has been taken once daily for 12 weeks along with 5 mg of levocetirizine in children 7-12 years-old.

For preventing diarrhea caused by antibiotics: While taking antibiotics, 10-20 billion live organisms of a strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus GG (Culturelle), has been taken once daily or 20 billion organisms twice daily.

For eczema (atopic dermatitis): Five billion CFU of Lactobacillus sakei has been used twice daily for 12 weeks. Also, 100 million CFU of Lactobacillus reuteri daily from birth to 12 months has been used. Fifty billion CFU of Lactobacillus plantarum has been used twice daily for 12 weeks in children aged 1 to 13 years.

For a condition associated with an increased risk for developing allergic reactions (atopic disease): Ten to 20 billion CFU of Lactobacillus GG has been used daily for the first three to six months of life.

For diarrhea: Six billion CFU of a specific strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus GG, has been used twice daily in infants while hospitalized. Also, 37 billion CFU of Lactobacillus GG has been used daily, 6 days weekly, for 15 months in children 6 to 24 months-old.

For Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection: A combination of 94 billion CFU Lactobacillus acidophilus and 8.6 billion CFU Bifidobacterium bifidum have been used together with an antibiotic daily for 2 weeks, followed by the probiotics alone for an additional 4 weeks.

For colic in babies: One hudred million CFU of Lactobacillus reuteri (Probiotic Drops, BioGaia AB) has been used daily for up to 90 days in breast-fed and formula-fed infants.

For lung infections: Milk products containing 1 million to 5 billion CFU of various Lactobacillus strains have been used.

For traveler's diarrhea: Two billion CFU of a specific strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus GG, has been used daily, starting two days before traveling and continuing until the end of the trip.

For a bowel condition called ulcerative colitis: A combination probiotic containing 450 billion to 1800 billion bacteria, including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus (VSL#3), has been used daily in children with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis.

Lactobacillus is SAFE when taken by mouth appropriately. Side effects are usually mild and most often include intestinal gas or bloating.

Lactobacillus is also SAFE for women to use inside the vagina.

Children: Lactobacillus is SAFE when taken by mouth appropriately in children. Lactobacillus GG, a specific strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, has been used safely from five days to 15 months.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Lactobacillus is SAFE when taken by mouth appropriately while pregnant and breastfeeding. Lactobacillus GG has been used safely in pregnant and breast-feeding women. The combinations of Lactobacillus rhamnosus or Lactobacillus paracasei with Bifidobacterium longum from 2 months before delivery until the breastfed infant was 2 months has been used safely. But other types of lactobacillus have not been studied during pregnancy and breast-feeding, so their safety is unknown.

Digestive surgery: There is some concern that eating a yogurt containing Lactobacillus might cause a bacterial infection following a colonoscopy. Stop taking probiotics before a digestive surgery or colonoscopy.

Weakened immune system: There is some concern that lactobacillus from supplements that contain live bacteria might grow too well in people whose immune systems are weakened. This includes people with HIV/AIDS or people who have taken medicines to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ. Lactobacillus has caused disease (rarely) in people with weakened immune systems. To be on the safe side, if you have a weakened immune system, talk with your healthcare provider before taking lactobacillus.

Short bowel syndrome: People with short bowel syndrome might be more likely than other people to develop lactobacillus infections. If you have this condition, talk with your healthcare provider before taking lactobacillus.