You may need a course of probiotics containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, also called L. acidophilus, if you have an infection that causes the condition of candida, also called thrush. Regular use of L. acidophilus might be able to cure the candida infection and prevent it from returning, but the amount or dosage of recommended for you may not be appropriate for other people. In any case, you should talk to your doctor before taking L. acidophilus, or any other probiotic, especially if you have recurrent infections.
Acidophilus
L. acidophilus is a healthy bacterial strain that normally resides in the body, particularly in the mouth, intestines and urinary tract. When certain harmful bacteria overpopulate these areas, a bacterial or fungal infection develops. All of the bacteria in the body fight for territory and survival, which depends on competing for certain nutrients and creating a friendly environment. Friendly bacteria thrive on healthy foods. Their by-products have microbial effects, thereby creating an environment that makes it difficult for harmful bacteria to survive. L. acidophilus is the culture found in yogurt and other fermented dairy products. One serving of yogurt might contain one dose of L. acidophilus. The dosage depends on how many live cultures the product contains.
Acidophilus Dosage
But, what exactly is a dose of L. acidophilus? Dietary standards haven't been established for probiotics, unlike vitamins and minerals. Until this happens, Gary B. Huffnagle, author of "The Probiotics Revolution," suggests that one probiotic serving unit contains 3 to 10 billion live cultures. He stresses this amount is an approximate value, based on an educated guess from the collective experience of scientists who study beneficial microbes.
Candida
Candida is an infection that more commonly affects children and the elderly, although the condition may affect anyone. Signs and symptoms of candida include a white-spotted tongue, oral soreness and difficulties breathing. Because L. acidophilus normally resides in the body, a regular dose of L. acidophilus might be safe for you to take. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends a therapeutic dosage of 1 to 10 billion live cultures of L. acidophilus per day until the infection clears up.
Considerations
Some people may not be able to take the therapeutic dosage recommended for treating candida. According to Medicine Plus, probiotic dietary supplements may populate too well in some people, causing further illness or disease. These people include those with weaker immune systems, such as infants, children, the elderly, and those with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Further, people who took antibiotics for treating candida might need to double-dose on L. acidophilus for two weeks after taking antibiotics. This is because antibiotics kill all bacteria, including the ones beneficial for you, so your body needs healthy bacteria regularly to get a foothold on the body's internal environment.
References
- "The Probiotics Revolution: The Definitive Guide to Safe, Natural Health Solutions Using Probiotic and Prebiotic Foods and Supplements"; Gary Huffnagle and Sarah Wernick; June 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Candidiasis; Steven Ehrlich, NMD; December 2009
- MedicinePlus; Lactobacillus; November 2010
