Lactobacillus Acidophilus tablets are a widely known and commonly used probiotic. Many people are familiar with this ingredient because they eat food products, like yogurt, milk or orange juice, which have been enriched with acidophilus.
Additionally, L. acidophilus is available in a variety of supplement forms such as pearls, pills, liquid and suppositories. Tablets are an ideal supplement for children, for anyone who is lactose intolerant and for those who experience difficulty swallowing pills.
Acidophilus tablets can be taken as a stand-alone treatment or, depending on the symptoms being treated, can be used in combination with other probiotics.
More research and clinical studies have been done with acidophilus than any other probiotic on the market today. These versatile bacteria are found in large numbers throughout the intestinal tract, vagina and mouth.
We naturally get acidophilus from foods, like bananas and tomatoes, which are part of our regular diet.



- Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
- Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
- Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism
L. Acidophilus Tablets
Related Topics
- What are Probiotics?
- Probiotic Benefits
- Best Probiotic Strains
- Probiotic Side Effects
- Probiotic Supplements
- Probiotic Foods
- Best Probiotic Yogurt
- Probiotics for Children
- Probiotics for Women
- Yeast Infections
- What are Prebotics?
- Lactobacillus Acidophilus
- Lactobacillus Bulgaricus
- Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
- Bifidobacterium Bifidum
- Bifidobacterium Infantis
- Bifidus Regularis
Perhaps the most common use of L. acidophilus tablets is to re-establish the healthy microflora in the gut following a disruption.
Disruption can occur due for a variety of reasons, but common causes are illness, use of antibiotics or disease processes which affect the GI tract.
Many studies show that daily supplementation with acidophilus is an effective aid to replenishment of the healthy intestinal microbiota.
To accomplish this, acidophilus works primarily in two ways:
Competitive Exclusion: By out-competing pathogenic bacterial agents for space within the microbiome of the gut, harmful organisms are quickly overwhelmed and left without colonization space. To achieve this, an adequate dose of living bacteria must be taken.
Fermentation: Acidophilus is homofermentative, meaning it converts the sugars we eat into lactic acid, thereby creating and maintaining an environment with low pH. This highly acidic environment is inhospitable to many pathogenic bacterial and fungal organisms. This means that bad bacteria cannot establish themselves in the gut, preventing many health problems before they occur.
Both of these processes contribute to the effects acidophilus can have in treating other digestive disorders or symptoms including diarrhea, constipation, vaginosis, and Candida infection of the mouth.
Acidophilus Probiotic Benefits
Researchers estimate that a typical adult carries about 3.3 pounds of microorganisms within their digestive system at any given point in time. Over the last few decades, scientist found a direct link between our immune system and microflora, both good and bad, contained within our guts.
As infants, mammals receive large quantities of probiotic organisms via breast milk from their mothers. In fact, some studies show children who were fed formula instead of breast milk may be more prone to allergies and illness throughout their lives.
Some pediatricians recommend supplementation of acidophilus for infant diarrhea and symptoms of colic. Acidophilus tablets are available in appropriate doses for infants and children. These can be chewed or ground up and added to foods.
Another common use for acidophilus is the treatment of vaginal infections, particularly those caused by the fungus, Candida. Many women use L. acidophilus as an early treatment, or as a preventative method, against infections.
Acidophilus tablets can be taken orally in conjunction with the acidophilus vaginal suppositories recommended by your physician.
Best Acidophilus Sources
Foods naturally containing lactobacillus acidophilus include onions, barley, garlic, bananas, tomatoes and a fermented milk product called kefir.
Also, naturally fermented food products like soy, miso and tempeh are good natural sources of acidophilus.
When these foods are added to a regular diet, many individuals report a decrease in feelings of bloating, gas or other digestive discomforts.
For many people, finding and adding these foods to their daily regimen is not possible. Acidophilus tablets are a simple alternative to assure the appropriate dose of living bacteria is being taken in each day.
Adult Dosing: When taking L. acidophilus to restore the microbiota of the gut after illness or antibiotic treatment, tablets containing 10-20 billion Colony Forming Units (CFUs) are usually taken twice each day.
It is important that the tablets contain at least 10 billion CFUs; otherwise the probiotic bacteria are not able to out-compete the harmful bacteria. No more than 20 billion CFU should be taken in a single dose.
For daily dosing as an adjunct to a normal health regimen, acidophilus tablets can be combined with other probiotics for a continuous effect. Some manufacturers offer tablets containing several probiotics which work to support one another’s effects.
Children and Infants: Speak with your pediatrician before giving any supplement or medication to infants or children. While acidophilus is considered generally safe, only a doctor is able to ascertain the health of a child and the appropriate course of treatment and dose.
Usage Information
Lactobacilus acidophilus is considered a safe and effective probiotic for most people. Individuals with weakened immune systems should not take probiotics unless under the direction of their doctor.
Pregnant or nursing mothers should consult with their doctor before taking acidophilus or other probiotics.
Acidophilus is a versatile and potent probiotic. It is most commonly used to replenish the beneficial microorganisms within the gastrointestinal tract after a disruption has occurred.
Acidophilus tablets, which can be chewed or ground up and added to foods, are an easy means of supplementation.
- Maroof H, Hassan ZM, Mobarez AM, Mohamadabadi MA. Lactobacillus acidophilus could modulate the immune response against breast cancer in murine model. J Clin Immunol. 2012
- Ziada DH, Soliman HH, El Yamany SA, Hamisa MF, Hasan AM. Can Lactobacillus acidophilus improve minimal hepatic encephalopathy? A neurometabolite study using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Arab J Gastroenterol. 2013
- Singh V, Kumar A, Raheja G, Anbazhagan AN, Priyamvada S, Saksena S, Jhandier MN, Gill RK, Alrefai WA, Borthakur A, Dudeja PK. Lactobacillus acidophilus attenuates downregulation of DRA function and expression in inflammatory models. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2014
- Wang YH, Huang Y. Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum supplementation to standard triple therapy on Helicobacter pylori eradication and dynamic changes in intestinal flora. World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2014
- Sivieri K, Morales ML, Adorno MA, Sakamoto IK, Saad SM, Rossi EA. Lactobacillus acidophilus CRL 1014 improved gut health" in the SHIME reactor." BMC Gastroenterol. 2013
Article last updated on: April 27th, 2018 by Nootriment