Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the lactobacillus species that produce lactic acid in the digestive tract.
The human digestive system contains more than 400 different bacterial species. The number of bacteria has been estimated to be approximately 1014.
The prevalent bacteria in the human adult digestive tract are bacteroides, eubacteria, peptostreptococci, bifidobacteria, enterobacteria, streptococci, lactobaccili, clostridia and staphylococci.
Lactobacillus is commercially available in yogurt, fermented milk and capsule form.
Antibiotics may disturb intestinal bacteria, causing diarrhea. Lactobacillus acidophilus may reduce risk of diarrhea.
Lactobacillus acidophilus are "friendly" bacteria that help reduce common side effects (i.e. diarrhea) of antibiotic therapy. Taking acidophilus-containing products may be recommended during and after antibiotic therapy.
Information on the relationship between substances and disease is provided for general information, in order to convey a balanced review of the scientific literature. In many cases the relationship between a substance and a disease is tentative and additional research is needed to confirm such a relationship.
Immunity: Lyophilized bifidobacterium bifidum (BB) and lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) were given orally to 15 elderly subjects while a placebo was given to 10 elderly subjects for 28 days. The BB and LA administration significantly reduced the inflammatory infiltration in the colon. A significant increase was observed in the number of cells in the peripheral blood that produces antibodies necessary for immune responses. This trial indicated that daily intake of probiotics modulated immunological and inflammatory reactions in the elderly.4
Adherence of Probiotics: It has been found that probiotic bacteria are able to adhere to the intestinal mucous and therefore provide health benefits to infants, children, and adults suffering from diarrhea. However, the ability to adhere to mucosal lining varies among the different types of probiotic bacteria.5
Helicobacter pylori Infection: The effect of L. acidophilus La1 on H. pylori growth urease activity and adhesion to epithelial cells was determined in-vitro. Subjects infected with H. Pylori were treated with 50 ml of L. acidophilus supernatant four times a day with omeprazole for 14 days. Subjects showed decreased colonization of H. pylori by oral administration of acidophilus supernatant. In-vitro, bacteria supernatant inhibited urease activity and the adhesion of H. pylori to HT-29 cells. The authors concluded that L. acidophilus strains produce an inhibitory activity on H. pylori growth in-vitro and in-vivo.6
Colon Cancer: To identify if L. acidophilus reduced the risk of colon cancer development, F344 rats were fed lyophilized cultures of L. acidophilus and treated with azoxymethane (AOM) to induce aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon. Lyophized probiotics decreased AOM-induction of colonic ACF, crypt multiplicity and number of ACF/cm2 colon. ACF formation was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Probiotics like L. acidophilus may help prevent colon cancer development. 7
Renal Failure: Patients undergoing hemodialysis were treated with L. acidophilus (LBA) to alter small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SBBO). The LBA treatment significantly reduced concentrations of toxins and carcinogens in serum such as dimethylamines and nitrosodimethylamine. Nutritional status, serum albumin and body weight were moderately improved. 8
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