Lactobacillus acidophilus is a commensal bacterium, meaning that it lives in the gastrointestinal tract without causing disease. The bacteria metabolize lactose, producing lactic acid and antimicrobial products that prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria, and synthesize Vitamin K. After antibiotic therapy, some patients are administered acidophilus supplements to replace the bacteria and prevent opportunistic bacterial infections like C. difficile.
Acidophilus as a Probiotic
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria provided medicinally. In general, they compete with pathogenic bacteria to prevent disease and fulfill necessary functions, such as digestion. Lactobacillus acidophilus digests lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products. The bacteria are often found in yogurts to aid in dairy consumption and are present in alternative milk products to alleviate lactose intolerance. Too little acidophilus can result in impaired digestion.
Probiotics have become a popular supplement market, but are often already found in foods or are provided naturally from the environment.
How Acidophilus Colonizes the Human Body
Humans are originally colonized by the bacterium hours after birth. Babies born by Cesarean section are not exposed to the same bacteria as those born vaginally, but those that breast feed also have the opportunity to be exposed to and colonized by the bacteria. There are other beneficial bacteria that are also gained through this same mechanism. Colic and reflux is less common in babies who are properly colonized by the commensal bacteria. Acidophilus is also often used to treat thrush, a fungal infection of the mouth, in infants.
Additional Benefits of Acidophilus
In addition to vitamin K, the bacterium also aids in B vitamin production, such as niacin, folic acid, B6, B12, and biotin. Acidophilus also helps recycle the amino acids in bile and normalize cholesterol. Some evidence indicates the benefit of acidophilus in preventing and treating yeast and other fungal infections in women, diarrhea, and urinary tract infections during antibiotic therapy. The American Cancer Society points out that there have been no definitive human studies on the use of acidophilus to preventing or treating cancer and animal studies have been contradictory.
There is some risk of too much bacteria in the digestive tract and it is recommended that any supplementation outside of food consumption be done under the direction of a doctor.
Acidophilus in Other Organisms
Animals also require intestinal bacteria. Baby rabbits obtain acidophilus via their mother’s pellets. The bacterium has also shown benefits to the colon health of horses. Most other warm-blooded animals and birds have also been found to be colonized by acidophilus.
Sources:
MayoClinic
Alicia Mae Prater - Alicia received her doctorate in Experimental Pathology in 2007. She has been a freelance writer and scientific editor since 2008.
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