Lactobacilli are good bacteria that swell in the digestive tract and the vagina. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that lactobacillus acidophilus is generally safe when taken as a supplement but should be avoided by people with a compromised immune system, with intestinal damage or who have an overabundance of intestinal bacteria.
Cure Vaginosis
Lactobacillus acidophilus is also referred to as a probiotic when used medicinally, whether as a supplement or an added ingredient to food products to treat various conditions. While there are a wide variety of uses for the bacteria, research reported by the NIH supports the use of lactobacillus acidophilus to treat vaginal bacterial infections in a number of research studies. For vaginal infections, the NIH recommends the average amount used in an eight-ounce yogurt container or capsules containing 1.5 grams. The probiotic is effective when used as a suppository. Smaller studies have shown promise for the use of the probiotic for vaginosis when added to yogurt. At the same time, little research supports the use of the probiotic to treat yeast infections.
Treat Childhood Diarrhea
The NIH has received limited research conclusions for any other medicinal uses of lactobacillus acidophilus, though some studies have reported limited success. While little benefit was found in using the probiotic to treat diarrhea, a similar bacteria called lactobacillus GG showed more promising results when used for children and infants. They did find a use for lactobacillus acidophilus, however, in treating persistent and runny diarrhea in small children and in those children who were diagnosed with diarrhea caused by bacteria overgrowth.
Heal Stomach Infections
Promising signs also have been shown for using the bacterial ingredient to treat H. pylori infection, a stomach infection that researchers at the Mayo Clinic say affects nearly half the world's population. The bacteria may be helpful in treating intestinal blockage when the obstruction is in the small bowel. Research by the NIH concludes that dosages higher than 10 billion viable, or live, parts per day may cause intestinal discomfort, and any less than one billion may not be sufficient to offer healing benefits to the gut.
Prevent Premature Births
The NIH has found limited studies that show the use of lactobacillus acidophilus may help to prevent premature births. Lactobacillus acidophilus can be taken in pill form and is added by a number of manufacturers to food products such as yogurt, cereal and cheese. The NIH advises pregnant and nursing women to check with a health care provider before taking lactobacillus acidophilus.
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