The Consumer Guide to Acidophilus
In this guide...What Is It?
Benefits and Uses
Do Scientists Know How It Works?
Recent Findings
Optimal Intake
Safety
Food Source
Type Of Products
References
Browse Our Wide Selection of Acidophilus Products
What is it? Acidophilus is short for Lactobacillus acidophilus, a probiotic, or "friendly" intestinal bacteria that inhabits the colon and supports important body functions. Acidophilus preparations are dried or liquid cultures of living bacteria, usually grown in a milk base; some acidophilus products are grown in milk- free cultures.
Benefits and uses:
- Acidophilus can replace the friendly intestinal bacteria destroyed by broad-spectrum antibiotics—bacteria that are needed for digestion and to help suppress undesirable bacteria.
- Acidophilus is often used to treat yeast infections and intestinal yeast overgrowth and its symptoms, such as diarrhea.
- Acidophilus helps in the production of some B vitamins and vitamin K, and aids in the breakdown of various foods.
- Preliminary research indicates that acidophilus may help improve immunity, treat allergies (particularly to foods), improve skin health, treat herpes infections, reduce cholesterol levels, and lower risk of colon cancer and other cancers.
- Acidophilus is a source of lactase, the enzyme needed to digest milk, which is lacking in lactose-intolerant individuals.
- Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome may be alleviated by increased acidophilus intake.
Recent findings: In 1998, Spanish researchers reported that acidophilus adheres to epithelial vaginal cells (cells in the vagina’s mucosal lining), displacing well-known vaginal pathogens, and inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae in test tubes. Authors of a March, 1996 review article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded, "There is now evidence that administration of selected microorganisms is beneficial in the prevention and treatment of certain intestinal and, possibly, treatment of vaginal infections."
Optimal intake: The dosage is generally one tablespoon of powdered or liquid culture or one to two capsules after meals. It is wise to drink milk or take FOS while you are using acidophilus, as these provide food the bacteria to grow. FOS (fructoligosaccharide) is a plant carbohydrate that provides non-dairy food for acidophilus To treat yeast infection, you can take any acidophilus product by mouth or place liquid culture directly into the vagina. To offset the effects of antibiotics, take the antibiotics with meals and acidophilus at least two hours later and at least two hours before you take another antibiotic. Otherwise, the antibiotic may kill off the good acidophilus bacteria.
Safety: Acidophilus is completely nontoxic.
Food sources: Some brands of yogurt contain added acidophilus, and these types of yogurt have shown limited benefit in clinical trials. However, acidophilus can be killed off by the two lactobaccilli bacterium used to make yogurt from milk—S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus. (Both of these lactobacilli perform beneficial "services’ similar to those of acidophilus; they, too create an acid environment hostile to disease bacteria and produce hydrogen peroxide that kills yeast.) Accordingly, acidophilus yogurt may not contain enough of these friendly bacteria to be a reliable source.
Types of products: Most acidophilus is milk-based, but non-dairy versions are also available, as are products containing FOS (see "Optimal intake"). Acidophilus is commonly combined with other beneficial lactobacilli, such as Bifido bacterium bifidum or L. casei. Acidophilus with an enteric coating prevents stomach acid from destroying good bacteria, allowing them to reach your intestines. Look for products that state their content in billions rather than millions of live, viable bacterial organisms per gram. These products are the most valuable for therapeutic use. Acidophilus products must be kept refrigerated, unless they are labeled as being shelf-stable or heat-resistant. Even these may benefit from refrigeration.
References
- Barefoot SF, Klaenhammer TR. Detection and Activity of Lactacin B, a Bacteriocin Produced by Lactobacillus Acidophilus. Appl Environ Microbiol 1983;45:1808-15.
- Boris S, Suarez JE, Vazquez F, Barbes C. Adherence of human vaginal lactobacilli to vaginal epithelial cells and interaction with uropathogens. Infect Immun 1998 May;66(5):1985-9.
- De Simone C, Vesely R, Bianchi SB, et al. The Role of Probiotics in Modulation of the Immune System in Man and in Animals. Int J Immunother 1993;9:23-8.
- Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal infections. JAMA 1996 Mar 20;275(11):870-6.
- Hilton E, Isenberg HD, Alperstein P, et al. Ingestion of Yogurt Containing Lactobacillus Acidophilus as Prophylaxis for Candidal Vaginitis. Ann Int Med 1992;116:353-7.
- Jack M, Wood BJ, Berry DR. Evidence for the involvement of thiocyanate in the inhibition of Candida albicans by Lactobacillus acidophilus. Microbios 1990;62(250):37-46.
- Kawase K. Effects of Nutrients on the Intestinal Microflora of Infants. Jpn J Dairy Food Sci 1982; 31:A241-A243.
- Loizeau E. Can Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea be Prevented? Annales de Gastroenterologie et d Hepatologie 1993;29(1):15-8.
- McDonough FE, Hitchins AD, Wong NP, et al. Modification of Sweet Acidophilus Milk to Improve Utilization by Lactose-intolerant Persons. Amer J Clin Nutr 1987;45:570-4.
- Mel’nikova VM, Gracheva NM, Belikov GP, et al. The Chemoprophylaxis and Chemotherapy of Opportunistic Infections. Antibiotiki i Khimioterapiia 1993;38:44-8.
- Rasic JL. The Role of Dairy Foods Containing Bifido and Acidophilus Bacteria in Nutrition and Health. N Eur Dairy J 1983;4:80-8.
- Reid G et al. Implantation of Lactobacillus casei var rhamnosus into Vagina. Lancet 1994;344:1229.
- Scarpignato C, Rampal P. Prevention and Treatment of Traveler’s Diarrhea: A Clinical Pharmacological Approach. Chemotherapy 1995;41:48-81.
- Shalev E, Battino S, Weiner E, Colodner R, Keness Y. Ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus compared with pasteurized yogurt as prophylaxis for recurrent candidal vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Arch Fam Med 1996 Nov-Dec;5(10):593-6.
- Smirnov VV, Reznik SR, V’iunitskaia VA, et al. The Current Concepts of the Mechanisms of the Therapeutic-Prophylactic Action of Probiotics from Bacteria in the Genus Bacillus. Mikrobiolohichnyi Zhurnal 1993;55(4):92-112.
- Veldman A. Probiotics. Tijdschrift voor Diergeneeskunde 1992;117(12):345-8.