Evidence supporting the use of: Acidophilus
For the health condition: Infection (bacterial)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Lactobacillus acidophilus is a probiotic bacterium commonly found in the human gut and in fermented foods. Its use for supporting or treating bacterial infections is primarily supported by scientific investigation, though the evidence is modest and condition-specific. Several clinical studies have explored the role of L. acidophilus in preventing or reducing infections, particularly in the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. For example, it has been shown to help restore the balance of normal flora disrupted by antibiotics and may decrease the incidence or severity of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridioides difficile infection. In the context of bacterial vaginosis and recurrent urinary tract infections, some trials suggest that L. acidophilus, alone or in combination with other probiotics, can help restore healthy vaginal flora and reduce infection recurrence.
The proposed mechanisms include competitive inhibition of pathogenic bacteria, production of antimicrobial substances (such as lactic acid and bacteriocins), and modulation of immune responses. However, while laboratory and small-scale clinical studies are promising, large, well-controlled trials are limited, and results are sometimes inconsistent depending on the infection type and population studied. Therefore, while there is some scientific validation for the use of L. acidophilus in the context of bacterial infections, particularly for prevention and adjunctive therapy rather than treatment of active infection, the overall evidence is moderate (rating: 2/5).
Other ingredients used for Infection (bacterial)
2'-FucosyllactoseAjoene
Allspice
alpha-pinene
annatto
bacillus clausii
bacillus subtilis
barberry
bayberry
bearberry
myrobalan
berberine
Beta-Glucan
betel
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
bisabolol
black cumin
black pepper
black walnut
burdock
caprylic acid
cassia bark
cat's claw
Coptis chinensis
turmeric
curcumin
cuspidatum root
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
ginger
goldenseal
heartwood
immunoglobin G
iodine
L12-myoviridae
lactobacillus brevis
lactobacillus crispatus
lactobacillus gasseri
lactobacillus lactis
lactobacillus paracasei
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactobacillus salivarius
lactoferrin
lactoperoxidase
lauric acid
licorice root
mangosteen
methenamine
monolaurin
moringa
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
purified silver
saccharomyces boulardii
schizonepeta
shiitake mushroom
streptococcus thermophilus
T4D-myoviridae
vitamin C
vitamin D
Wasabi
xylitol
zinc
bentonite
sarsaparilla
yellow root
pistacia integerrima gall
blackboard tree
caesalpinia crista
rubia cordifolia
swertia
pau d'arco
myrrh
oriental arborvitae
eucalyptus
white oak
Abies spectabilis
geranium
red root
sea salt
15,16-Dihydrotanshinone I
3-Phenyllactic Acid
Alcohol
Avens
Agarikon Mushroom
Apple Cider Vinegar
Agastache
Alpha-terpineol
Acacia
Agave
Allicin
Achyranthes
Anamu
Abrus
Alchornea
Asarum heterotropoides
Aucubin
Andrographolide
Asam gelugor
Andrographis
Alsonia scholaris
Allyl Sulfide
Acemannan
Allyl isothiocyanate
Alliin
Abuta
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Alantolactone
Bee Propolis
Bifidobacterium
Babchi
Baphicacanthus cusia
Blepharis
Baccharis dracunculifolia
Berberis (unspecified)
Brazilian peppertree
Basidiomycota
Brevibacillus brevis
Bauhinia
Bacillus licheniformis
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Backhousia citriodora
Bifidobacterium animalis
Black Nightshade
Bacteria
Bacillus
benzyl isothiocyanate
Bassia scoparia
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Clerodendrum trichotomum
coconut oil
Coriolus mushroom
Combretum quadrangulare
Carvacrol
Cinquefoil
Cymbidium goeringii
Cajuput
Celandine
Centipeda
Cistus
Campsiandra angustifolia
Chirata
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Calamus
Coin-leaf desmodium
Ceanothus integerrimus
Cosmos
Cynodon dactylon
Chiococca alba
Cocklebur
Copaiba Oil
Celosia
Dehydroabietic acid
DIVI-DIVI
Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
Elephant's Head
Euphorbia
Elemi
Embelia
Eugenol
Fucoidan
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fomes fomentarius
Fang-Feng
Ficus religiosa
Geraniol
Glyceryl monolaurate
Glyceryl caprylate caprate
Globulins
Graviola
Galangin
Gallesia
Golden Shower Tree
Guazuma ulmifolia
Hygrophila
Houttuynia
Hydrocolloid
Humic acid
Horsemint
Immunoglobulin G
Isoalantolactone
Indian Coraltree
Isothiocyanates
Kigelia africana
Kachnar
Kochia
Knotgrass
Kefiran
Lime
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lichen
Lophira lanceolata
Lapachol
Lactic Acid
Lactococcus casei
Lysozyme
Leptadenia
Lantana camara
Leptospermum scoparium
Lactobacillus
Liverwort
L. lactis
Lysimachia
Labdanum
Lauric arginate
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Mountain horopito
Marsh Tea
Malva sylvestris
Matapalo Tree
Mangostin
Mahonia
Microtea debilis
Milkweed
Mondo Grass
Mangostanol
Mannose
Manzanita
Macaranga indica
Naphthoquinones
Nisin
Nasturtium
Osha
Orris
Oldenlandia diffusa
Phellodendron
Purple Tephrosia
Premna
Phragmites
Pluchea
Paenibacillus polymyxa
Pepper Bark Tree
Phlorotannins
Probiotics
Pediococcus acidilactici
Piper retrofractum
Pentatropis capensis
Pareira
Plumbago zeylanica
Peroxidase
Plectranthus amboinicus
Quebracho
Quisqualis
Rubia yunnanensis
Rosa laevigata
Spilanthes
Spanish Needle
Streptomyces
Streptomyces cellulosae
Shikonin
Self-Heal
Stemona
Siphoviridae
Sanguisorba
Streptomyces fradiae
Sesquiterpenic Acid
Streptococcus salivarius
Sarcandra glabra
Savory
Streptomyces griseoflavus
Simaruba
Sulfated polysaccharide
Storax
Smoketree
Sword Bean
Tannins
Terpinen-4-ol
Thuja
Thymol
Trametes
Thiosulfinate
Teri Pod
Umckaloabo
Umckalin
Vinegar
Verbascoside
Waltheria ovata
Xanthorrhizol
Zingerone
Other health conditions supported by Acidophilus
Abdominal PainAcid Indigestion
Allergies (food)
Antibiotics (side effects of)
Bladder Infection
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Colitis
Constipation (adults)
Constipation (children)
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Diverticulitis
Enteritis
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Giardia
Infection (bacterial)
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Lactose Intolerance
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Thrush
Urinary Tract Infections
Vaginitis