Lactobacillus acidophilus

Reported Doses

Safety/efficacy may not be established; reported doses may be derived from limited or potentially inadequate studies w/ variable regimens, multi-ingredient products, or where concentration of active ingredients may vary widely

Special Note

[formulation clarification]

Info: uses and doses represent various probiotic-containing products; other Lactobacillus species exist, but are not included; select proprietary products noted below

[Floranex products]

Info: each granule packet contains 100 million CFUs Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus; each tablet contains 1 million CFUs Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus

[Lactinex products]

Info: each granule packet contains 100 million CFUs Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus; each tablet contains 1 million CFUs Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus

Effectiveness Ratings

[see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table]

acne

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 30 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics); Info: used w/ minocycline

allergic rhinitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 30 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus L-92)

aphthous ulcer (canker sores)

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 3 billion CFUs lozenge PO qd (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics)

atopic dermatitis (eczema) prevention

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 105 billion CFUs PO qd in pregnant pt starting 36 wk gestation, then cont. until 3mo postpartum (L. acidophilus La-5 plus other probiotics); Alt: 5 billion CFUs PO bid in pts 1-3 yo (L. acidophilus DDS-1 plus other probiotics); Info: for childhood prevention

bacterial vaginosis

[Possibly Effective (PV route)]

Dose: 100 million-1 billion CFUs PV bid x6 days (L. acidophilus); Alt: 10-20 million CFUs PV qd x6 days (L. acidophilus); 1 billion CFUs/mL douche PV qd x6 days

[Possibly Effective (PO route)]

Dose: 125 mL live culture yogurt PO qd (L. acidophilus); Alt: 5.4 billion CFUs PO bid x7 days, then 5.4 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics)

candidiasis, vulvovaginal

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 800 million CFUs PV qod x10 days, then 800 million CFUs PV qwk x10wk (L. acidophilus LA 02 plus other probiotics); Start: after fluconazole 200 mg PO tid x1wk

cholestasis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 5 million CFUs PO tid (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics); Info: for use in preterm neonates

C. difficile infection prevention

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50-100 billion CFUs PO qd x5 days (L. acidophilus CL1285 plus other probiotics); Info: used w/ standard tx

colic

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 1 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus)

common cold

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 2 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics)

constipation

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 30 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics); Alt: 2 billion CFUs PO qam (L. acidophilus NCFM plus other probiotics)

critical illness (trauma)

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 5.5 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus LA-5 plus other probiotics)

diabetes mellitus, type 1

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 112.5 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics); Info: for pts 2-12 yo

diabetes mellitus, type 2

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 111 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics); Alt: 2 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus La-5 plus other probiotics); 0.93 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus)

diabetic nephropathy

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 3.2 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics)

diarrhea, adult pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 20 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus LB)

diarrhea, peds pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 20-30 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus LB); Info: for pts 1 mo-4 yo; used w/ standard tx

diarrhea, antibiotic-assoc.

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 20 billion CFUs PO tid (L. acidophilus); Alt: 100 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus CL1285 plus other probiotics)

diarrhea, radiation-related

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose 1.75 billion CFUs PO tid (L. acidophilus LA-5 plus other probiotics); Alt: 2 billion CFUs PO bid starting 7 days before XRT (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics)

diarrhea, rotaviral

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 22 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus AD031 plus other probiotics); Alt: 20-30 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus LB); Info: for use in peds pts

generalized anxiety disorder

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 18 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics); Info: used w/ sertraline

gestational diabetes

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 4 billion CFUs PO qd starting 24-28 wk gestation (L. acidophilus LA-5 plus other probiotics); Alt: 112.5 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics); 6 billion CFUs/g PO qd (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics)

H. pylori infection, adult pts

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 5 billion CFUs PO tid x10 days (L. acidophilus LB); Alt: 10 million CFUs PO tid x6wk (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics); Info: used w/ standard tx

H. pylori infection, peds pts

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 102.6 million CFUs PO qd x6wk (L. acidophilus LA-05 plus other probiotics); Info: used w/ standard tx

hypercholesterolemia

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 39 million-2 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus); Info: used w/ or w/o other probiotics

IBS

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 20 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus); Alt: 225 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics); 10 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus DDS-1); 2.5 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus LA120 plus other probiotics); 10 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus NCFM plus other probiotics)

inflammatory bowel dz

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 20 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus LA-5 plus other probiotics)

lactose intolerance

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 400 mL non-fermented milk containing 800 million-1 billion CFUs/mL PO qd (L. acidophilus)

metabolic syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 6 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus PBS066-DSM 24,936 plus other probiotics)

nausea/vomiting, pregnancy-induced

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 20 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus La-14 plus other probiotics)

nonalcoholic fatty liver dz

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 13 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus ATCC B3208 plus other probiotics); Info: for use in peds pts

obesity

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics)

polycystic ovary syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 6 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus T16 plus other probiotics); Alt: 10 billion CFUs PO qd x2mo, then 10 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus UBLA-34 plus other probiotics)

pouchitis, chronic

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 6 g PO qd (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics); Alt: 3.2 billion CFUs PO tid (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics)

prematurity

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 5 million CFUs PO tid (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics); Alt: 6 billion CFUs PO qd starting 7 days after birth, then cont. until 34 wk postmenstrual age or hospital discharge (L. acidophilus NCDO 1748 plus other probiotics); 1-3 billion CFUs PO qd-bid x1mo after birth (L. acidophilus); Info: for use in preterm neonates

psoriasis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 2.6 billion CFUs/day PO divided bid (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics)

respiratory infections prevention, adult pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics)

respiratory infections prevention, peds pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 10 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus NCFM plus other probiotics); Alt: 5 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus NCFM); 12.5 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus CUL21, CUL60 plus other probiotics); 5 billion CFUs PO qd (L. acidophilus DDS-1 plus other probiotics); Info: for pts 3 yo and older

sepsis, peds pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 6 billion CFUs PO qd starting 7 days after birth, then cont. until 34 wk postmenstrual age or hospital discharge (L. acidophilus NCDO 1748 plus other probiotics); Alt: 1-3 billion CFUs PO qd-bid x1mo after birth (L. acidophilus)

small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 3 g PO bid (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics)

ulcerative colitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 900 billion CFUs PO qd-bid (L. acidophilus DSM24735 plus other probiotics); Info: used w/ standard tx

UTI prevention, peds pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 25 mg/kg/dose PO bid (L. acidophilus plus other probiotics); Max: 1000 mg/day; Info: for pts 4 mo-5 yo

ventilator-assoc. pneumonia prevention

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 5.5 billion CFUs PO bid (L. acidophilus LA-5 plus other probiotics)