Evidence supporting the use of: Lactobacillus casei
For the health condition: Thrush

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lactobacillus casei is a probiotic bacterium that has been investigated for its potential to help prevent or manage oral candidiasis (thrush), a fungal infection primarily caused by Candida albicans. The scientific rationale behind its use centers on the ability of L. casei (and related Lactobacillus strains) to restore and maintain the balance of the normal oral microbiota, inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungi, and modulate local immune responses. Several in vitro studies have demonstrated that L. casei can inhibit the adhesion and biofilm formation of C. albicans on mucosal surfaces, possibly through competition for binding sites and the production of antimicrobial substances such as lactic acid and bacteriocins.

However, clinical evidence in humans is still limited. A small number of randomized controlled trials and observational studies suggest that oral or topical use of probiotics, including L. casei, may reduce the incidence or severity of thrush, particularly in at-risk populations such as denture wearers, infants, or immunocompromised patients. For example, a 2017 systematic review found some benefit from various probiotics in reducing oral candidiasis, but the quality and consistency of the evidence was low, with significant heterogeneity in strains, dosages, and study design. As such, while there is a plausible scientific basis and some preliminary human data, high-quality, large-scale trials are lacking, and current evidence is best described as promising but inconclusive.

More about lactobacillus casei
More about Thrush