Acidophilus lives naturally in the small intestines and vagina. Supplements and foods with acidophilus are available, such as some yogurts, and they may provide health benefits to your immune system, according to scientific evidence. However, talk to your doctor before trying to prevent, treat or cure any health condition with acidophilus.
Homeostasis
Microbiota are essential to human health, especially with regards to the immune system. Microbiota are microscopic living organisms that are important to help maintain the homeostasis of the immune system, according to an article published in November 2009 in "Current Opinion in Gaastroenteroly." In other words, they help keep cells within the immune system balanced to help protect against disease. Acidophilus is one such type of microbiota.
Age-Related Immune System Function
Part of the aging process is changes within the immune system, according to a study published in 2009 in the "British Journal of Nutrition." Specifically, the number of bifidobacteria, which are protective living organisms that exist in the intestines, declines. Bifidobacteria help protect against allergies and tumor growth. In this study, supplementation with acidophilus in a group of healthy older adults effectively raised the levels of bifidobacteria in the intestines.
Colonic Inflammation
Inflammation is a normal immune response. However, it can become chronic and lead to inflammatory intestinal disorders. In laboratory studies, acidophilus was found to suppress T cells that when overproduced lead to colitis. Results of the study were published in March 2011 in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America."
Macrophages
Acidophilus may benefit the immune system by stimulating macrophages. Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that takes in foreign invaders. A study published in April 2008 in the "Journal of Food Protection" found that macrophage activity was boosted in mice fed acidophilus.
References
- "Current Opinion in Gaastroenteroly"; The Intestinal Microbiota in Health and Disease: The Influence of Microbial Products on Immune Cell Homeostasis; Michael C. Abt & David Artis; November 2009
- "British Journal of Nutrition"; Influence of a Combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Lactitol on Healthy Elderly: Intestinal and Immune Parameters; Arthur C. Ouwehand et al.; July 2008
- "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America"; Regulation of Induced Colonic Inflammation by Lactobacillus Acidophilus Deficient in Lipoteichoic Acid; M. Mohamadzadeh et al.; March 2011
- "Journal of Food Protection"; Effect of Probiotic Strains Lactobacillus acidophilus LAFTI L10 and Lactobacillus paracasei LAFTI L26 on Systemic Immune Functions and Bacterial Translocation in Mice; Gunaranjan Paturi et al.; April 2008
