Lactobacilus Acidophilus - Intestinal Health

Name: Lactobacilus Acidophilus - Intestinal Health

Scientific Name:

Intro: Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) is the most commonly used probiotic, or "friendly" bacteria. Such healthy bacteria inhabit the intestines and vagina and protect against the entrance and proliferation of "bad" organisms that can cause disease. This is accomplished through a variety of mechanisms. For example, the breakdown of food by L. acidophilus leads to production of lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and other byproducts that make the environment hostile for undesired organisms. L. acidophilus also produces lactase, the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar (lactose) into simple sugars. People who are lactose intolerant do not produce this enzyme. For this reason, L. acidophilus supplements may be beneficial for these individuals

Researchers think that maintaining a healthy "colony" of acidophilus is crucial for maintaining overall health. Small amounts of L. acidophilus occur in cultured food products such as yogurt and acidophilus milk. However, in order to be effective, many doctors suggest that larger quantities need to be consumed in the form of supplements

Nutrient Content:

Benefits:

Aids in digestion and suppression of disease-causing bacteria.
Aids in the prevention and treatment of diarrhea, including infectious diarrhea, particularly from rotavirus (a virus that commonly causes diarrhea in children).
Helps in treating overgrowth of "bad" organisms in the gastrointestinal tract (a condition that tends to cause diarrhea and may occur from use of antibiotics).
Alleviates symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and, possibly, inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).
Prevents and/or reduces the recurrence of vaginal yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and cystitis (bladder inflammation).
Improves lactose absorption digestion in people who are lactose intolerant
Aids in the treatment of respiratory infections such as sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
Lowers risk of allergies, including asthma, hay fever, food allergies to milk, and skin reactions such as eczema.
Helps to treat high cholesterol.
Reduces the risk of recurring bladder tumors once this cancer has been treated.
Other conditions under investigation for use of probiotics include colon cancer, HIV related diarrhea, and Helicobacter pylori, an organism that can lead to development of ulcers
L. acidophilus supplementation may be especially useful for helping patients restore beneficial bacteria to the intestines after treatment with antibiotics.
Because of its ability to reduce cholesterol levels, it can potentially reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 6 to 10 percent.
Infants treated with L. acidophilus may recover from bouts with diarrhea more quickly

Comments: The Dietary Supplements Information Bureau recommends a daily dosage of 1-2 billion colony forming unit sfor maintenance and upto 10 billion colony forming units for approximately 2 weeks for recolonizing the intestinal bacteria following antibiotic therapy. This dietary supplement is considered safe when used in accordance with proper dosing guidelines.

Caution: Possible Interactions

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use Lactobacillus or other probiotics without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Antibiotics
Lactobacillus acidophilus is part of the normal bacteria found in the digestive tract and can be eliminated by antibiotics. It is important to take lactobacillus acidophilus following a course of antibiotics to help replace the bacteria eliminated by the antibiotic. These drugs include Aminoglycosides, Cephalosporins, Fluoroquinolones, Quinolones, Macrolides, Penicillins, Sulfonamides, Tetracyclines, Trimethoprin-containing antibiotics, Carbapenems, Monobactams, chloramphenicol, spectinomycin, Streptogramins, vancomycin, Oxalodinones, Lincosamides, Nitrofurans

Sulfasalazine
A laboratory study suggests that L. acidophilus speeds up metabolism of sulfasalazine, a medication used to treat ulcerative colitis. The significance of this information is unknown at this time.