Lactobacillus

• What other names is Lactobacillus known by?
• What is Lactobacillus?
• How does Lactobacillus work?
• Are there safety concerns?
• Are there any interactions with medications?
• Dosing considerations for Lactobacillus.

What other names is Lactobacillus known by?

Acidophilus, Acidophilus Bifidus, Acidophilus Lactobacillus, L. Acidophilus, L. Amylovorus, L. Brevis, L. Bulgaricus, L. Casei Immunitas, L. Casei, L. Crispatus, L. Delbrueckii, L. Fermentum, L. Gallinarum, L. Helveticus, L. Johnsonii, L. Johnsonii LC-1, L. Lactis, L. Plantarum, L. Reuteri, L. Rhamnosus, L. Salivarius, L. Sporogenes, Lacto Bacillus, Lactobacille, Lactobacilli, Lactobacilli Acidophilus, Lactobacilli Bulgaricus, Lactobacilli Plantarum, Lactobacilli Rhamnosus, Lactobacilli Salivarium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus amylovorus, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus casei sp. rhamnosus, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus gallinarum, Lactobacillus Gasseri, Lactobacillus GG, Lactobacillus Helveticus, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus Lactis, Lactobacillus Paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus Salivarium, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus sporogenes, Lactobacilo, Lactospores, LC-1, Probiotics, Probiotiques.

What is Lactobacillus?

Lactobacillus is a type of bacteria. There are lots of different species of lactobacillus. These are "friendly" bacteria that normally live in our digestive, urinary, and genital systems without causing disease. It is also in some fermented foods like yogurt and in dietary supplements.

Likely Effective for...

• Diarrhea in children caused by certain viruses.

Possibly Effective for...

• Preventing diarrhea in children caused by antibiotics or hospitalization.
• Treating diarrhea caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile.
• Bacterial vaginal infections.
• Treating and preventing eczema (atopic dermatitis) in infants and children.
• Helping prescription medications treat Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Lung infections in children.
• Preventing diarrhea due to traveling.
• Ulcerative colitis. Some research suggests that taking a specific combination product containing lactobacillus, bifidobacteria, and streptococcus might help induce remission and prevent relapse.

Possibly Ineffective for...

• Crohn's disease.
• Lactose intolerance.
• Reducing symptoms of too much bacteria in the intestines.
• Yeast infections after taking antibiotics.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs), general digestion problems, yeast infections, high cholesterol, Lyme disease, hives, fever blisters, canker sores, acne, cancer, stimulating the immune system, and other conditions.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).