Why are so many people using Lactobacillus Acidophilus tablets and what are the best sources to buy this probiotic supplement?
The benefits of supplementing probiotic bacteria to the digestive tract were first formally theorized by a Russian researcher who eventually went on to win the Nobel Prize. His name was Eli Metchnikoff.
While living and working in a region near the Russian steppes, he noticed the local people lived unusually long lives compared to their European counterparts. He also observed they regularly consumed traditional fermented milk products.
Metchnikoff developed a theory which stated that the gut could be “seeded” with certain lactic acid producing bacteria (which would come to be known as the Lactobacillus family), and that by doing so, longevity could be increased.
Although not all of the details of his theory were correct, today we know from a wealth of research and studies that probiotic bacteria, like that found in lactobacillus acidophilus tablets, can be beneficial to our digestive health and to the function of our immune system.



- Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
- Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
- Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism
Lactobacillus 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
Foods we eat are first broken down by the enzymes in the mouth as we chew them, after which they passes through the esophagus to the stomach.
Here, stomach acids, digestive enzymes and other chemical compounds work to convert sugars, fats and proteins into smaller and smaller bits. Stomach acids not only break down food, but work to inhibit and kill off unhealthy bacterial agents which cause infection.
After the stomach, food is passed to the duodenum (the beginning of the small intestine) where nutrients absorption through the intestinal mucosal wall begins.
Lactobacillus acidophilus, or L. acidophilus, is at home in the small intestine where it works non-stop to convert carbohydrates from foods into lactic acid and other necessary bio-chemicals considered important to digestion and health.
At the same time, these friendly bacteria inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria which were able to survive through the harsh environment of the stomach.
Because L. acidophilus is a hardy bacterium, it is able to traverse the stomach’s low pH chemical stew and reach its targeted destination to colonize and monitor the balance of healthy and unhealthy microflora.
When to Use Probiotics with Acidophilus
There are many reasons for flora imbalances but one the most common disruption is caused by treatment with antibiotic medications.
These helpful medicines fight and kill bacteria which cause illness and infection in the body, but they are unable to distinguish between the friendly and unfriendly microbes they encounter in their search for invaders.
They will kill both the harmful bacteria as well as helpful bacteria like lactobacillus acidophilus. Thus, many times an opening is created in which pathogenic bacteria are able to flourish.
Other common causes for imbalances within the gut flora are age, stress, poor diet (often combined with lack of exercise), and illness.
Many physicians and natural health practitioners recommend their patients begin a program of probiotic supplementation immediately following antibiotic therapy.
In some cases, it may even be helpful to take L. acidophilus tablets and other probiotic supplements at the same time as antibiotic medications, though they need to be ingested at a time as far as possible from the time the antibiotic is taken.
Restoration of the healthy flora to the gastrointestinal tract is an important means of ensuring good digestion, regular bowel patterns, reduction or elimination of chronic diarrhea, bloating, gas and flatulence.
The Difference with Tablets
Lactobacillus acidophilus tablets are preferred for children because they can be chewed and they usually come in flavors like strawberry, cherry, orange and blueberry.
Also, many adults who cannot swallow pills or capsules take L. acidophilus tablets for safety and comfort. Some tablets may come with enteric coatings which may result in more of the bacteria being delivered to the intestines and prevent it from being degraded by stomach acids.
Tablets are a convenient method of administration and can safely be stored in a pocket or purse if dosing more than once each day. If traveling to countries where Traveler’s Diarrhea is common, many people say taking 1-2 tablets twice each day are an easy way to decrease incidence of this illness.
Chewable lactobacillus acidophilus tablets usually contain bacteria which has been freeze-dried. This process, which is a common method for preservation in the pharmaceutical industry, renders the bacteria dormant until the time it is consumed.
Once ingested, the bacteria become active again and make their way to the small intestine to begin their work.
Usage Information
For convenience, flavor and potency, lactobacillus acidophilus tablets are a good choice. Dosage recommendations vary but most tablets contain 5 billion – 20 billion CFU (colony forming units).
As a daily health adjunct, a dose containing 5 billion CFU once each day is recommended.
People experiencing digestive problems like bloating, lactose intolerance, gas or abdominal pain do well taking 10 billion CFU twice each day, while adjusting the dose up or down according to the effect it is having on the individual’s system.
Those with IBS or Crohn’s Disease will find lactobacillus acidophilus contained in nearly all specialty formulas which have been designed to provide relief from symptoms associated with these autoimmune disorders.
Although it is possible to take lactobacillus acidophilus tablets separately from your other probiotics, it is more cost-effective, convenient and beneficial to dose with a product already formulated to address these symptoms.
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- Borthakur A, Bhattacharyya S, Kumar A, Anbazhagan AN, Tobacman JK, Dudeja PK. Lactobacillus acidophilus alleviates platelet-activating factor-induced inflammatory responses in human intestinal epithelial cells. PLoS One. 2013
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- Murina F, Graziottin A, Vicariotto F, De Seta F. Can Lactobacillus fermentum LF10 and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA02 in a slow-release vaginal product be useful for prevention of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis?: A clinical study. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2014
Article last updated on: May 2nd, 2018 by Nootriment