What Does Lactobacillus (L. acidophilus) Do to Your Body?

Lactobacillus acidophilus is an important probiotic that benefits our overall health. Lactobacillus benefits the digestive and immune system and guards against allergies.

Often, when we think of bacteria, we think of disease-causing pathogens that can wreak havoc on the body. However, many types of bacteria don’t cause disease in humans and are in fact very important for maintaining our overall health.  

One of these bacterial species, called Lactobacillus acidophilus, is an important probiotic that benefits our overall health. 

Bacteria often get a bad reputation as agents of disease. However, there are many different kinds of bacteria, some of which can make us sick and some of which are actually essential to our health.

These “good” bacteria make themselves right at home in our bodies, particularly in areas such as the gastrointestinal tract and the vagina. These good bacteria help us by breaking down products that we can’t digest and by creating conditions that can actually drive “bad” bacteria away.

The rich ecosystem of microorganisms and beneficial bacteria that live in our bodies is often referred to as the microbiome. Maintaining a healthy microbiome is essential for our overall health.

Unfortunately, the microbiome can be disrupted by various factors, such as disease or taking antibiotics. Antibiotics aren’t precise and kill any bacteria they can find, including bacteria that benefit our health. Replenishing good bacteria wiped out by an illness or after using antibiotics is therefore important for maintaining a healthy microbiome.

Probiotics are live cultures of beneficial bacteria that are available in supplement form. These beneficial bacteria can also be found naturally in fermented foods like yogurts. Probiotics can help maintain balance in the microbiome and reintroduce good bacteria that were affected by antibiotic treatment.

Many different kinds of bacteria make up the microbiome, and there are many different kinds of probiotics available. One of the most frequently used probiotics is made up of a common bacteria in our bodies called Lactobacillus acidophilus. 

Lactobacillus acidophilus, abbreviated as L. acidophilus, is a type of bacteria that lives in the gut and vagina. Lactobacilli are a large group of different types of bacteria that break down lactose, the sugar found in milk, into lactic acid. Nearly 200 species of lactobacilli have been categorized, including L. acidophilus.

L. acidophilus is one of the beneficial bacteria that make up the microbiome. L. acidophilus produces lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide when it breaks down lactose. These byproducts help to make an inhospitable environment for disease-causing bacteria that may have entered the body. 

This strain of bacteria is commonly found in dairy products like yogurt and cheese, products like olives, pickles, and salami, and in sourdough bread. The bacteria’s breakdown of lactose helps to ferment these foods and give them their characteristic flavors. 

Numerous studies show that L. acidophilus may actually have numerous health benefits: 

L. acidophilus can help manage diarrhea and gastrointestinal diseases. Diarrhea can be an unpleasant experience, and diarrhea that lasts longer than a day or two can cause some severe and even fatal side effects, such as an inability to absorb nutrients from food and dehydration. It can also indicate an underlying problem, such as a viral infection or parasite. 

Infants and children are particularly susceptible to dehydration from diarrhea, which is often caused by viral infections such as rotavirus. One study found, though, that administering  L. acidophilus can help reduce symptoms caused by rotavirus, including shortening the amount of time that children experienced diarrhea. 

L. acidophilus seems to help gastrointestinal symptoms caused by other conditions as well. One meta-analysis of several studies found that L. acidophilus, as well as related lactobacillus strains, effectively reduced diarrhea that was caused by antibiotics or by consumption of foods while traveling.

In addition to treating short-term diarrhea, L. acidophilus might help mediate symptoms of chronic gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 

One study found that IBS patients who received L. acidophilus probiotics had less abdominal discomfort compared to patients who did not receive the probiotic. Another study found that probiotics containing L. acidophilus helped to reduce abdominal bloating in IBS patients. 

However, it’s important to note that other studies have not reported a significant effect of L. acidophilus on symptoms of IBS. One study that examined patients over the course of a year did not find that L. acidophilus had any effect on IBS symptoms. 

More research is necessary to determine how L. acidophilus affects symptoms of gastrointestinal conditions. However, L. acidophilus does seem like a promising treatment that reduces the length of time that patients experience diarrhea caused by viral infection or antibiotic treatments. 

L. acidophilus may help treat and prevent vaginal infections. The vagina, similar to the gastrointestinal tract, has an extensive microbiome, and its maintenance is important for the organ’s overall health. Lactobacilli like L. acidophilus are a large part of a healthy vagina’s microbiome. 

Vaginal infections, like bacterial vaginosis, can disrupt the normal makeup of the microbiome. This can be worsened by antibiotics that are often used to treat the infection. A disrupted microbiome may make the vagina more susceptible to further infections. 

One study found that taking probiotics that included L. acidophilus, though, helped to inhibit the activity of bacteria that cause bacterial vaginosis.

There is some evidence that L. acidophilus may also prevent recurring vaginal infections. L. acidophilus, combined with other probiotic bacteria, may provide protection against infections such as bacterial vaginosis, aerobic vaginitis, and yeast infections.

L. acidophilus can help boost immune system function. In addition to its role in preventing vaginal infections, L. acidophilus can generally enhance the function of the immune system, particularly in children. 

One study examined the effect of L. acidophilus probiotics on cold and flu symptoms in children. This study found that the probiotics helped to reduce the length of time that infected children showed symptoms such as fever and coughing. 

Another study, also concerning children, showed that administration of L. acidophilus probiotics made it less likely that children would develop a fever or cough or have to miss school due to illness.

L. acidophilus may help alleviate allergy symptoms. L. acidophilus probiotics may help alleviate allergy symptoms. One study found that L. acidophilus, combined with other probiotics, reduced symptoms of pollen allergies in children. This probiotic helped to alleviate symptoms such as a runny or blocked nose.

Another study used milk that had been fermented with L. acidophilus cultures. The study found that consuming the L. acidophilus milk during pollen season helped to reduce allergy symptoms and patient discomfort. 

Probiotics like L. acidophilus are generally safe to consume, especially if you don’t have any underlying health conditions. However, taking probiotics can have some negative side effects, particularly if you’re already sick. 

People with compromised immune systems or who are experiencing an illness should refrain from taking probiotics. Although probiotics are generally safe, there is a risk that they can produce harmful byproducts or even increase antibiotic resistance.

Although probiotics themselves are made up of beneficial bacteria like L. acidophilus, potential byproducts and antibiotic-resistant genes can make treating other illnesses more difficult. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any probiotics to make sure that they’re the right supplement for you.

L. acidophilus is typically available as an over-the-counter supplement. These probiotic supplements typically come as powders, granules, or capsules. 

L. acidophilus is also present in smaller quantities in various foods. Yogurt, especially live-culture yogurt, often contains L. acidophilus. Enriched milk may also contain the bacteria, as do fermented products.

Our bodies contain expansive microbiomes, and these contain numerous different kinds of beneficial bacteria. Lactobacilli in the microbiome, such as L. acidophilus, play an important role in our general overall health. 

Supplemental L. acidophilus may have numerous additional beneficial effects, such as helping with gastrointestinal distress, preventing vaginal infections, reducing allergy symptoms, and boosting the immune system. However, it’s important to consult with your healthcare provider before taking any probiotics so you can ensure that they’re the right supplement for you.