Rankings / Immune & Inflammation
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Immune & Inflammation · Probiotic strain (lactic acid bacterium)
Tier B
Bottom line
Read Off Label grades Lactobacillus acidophilus as B (6.8/10) based on moderate evidence, low-moderate benefit magnitude, and a low-risk safety profile.
Single-strain L.
Studied, labeled, or reported-use context: 1-10 billion CFU/day; strain specificity matters — NCFM, La-5, DDS-1 are the better-characterized… — OTC; not individualized guidance.
Citation correction in progress
1 PubMed link was found to be unrelated to this entry and removed from public output. The remaining sources are shown below, but this row's claims and score still need a full source-by-source revalidation.
What the evidence says
Single-strain L. acidophilus is the historical 'yogurt' strain. Modern probiotic data is mostly strain-specific — LGG (rhamnosus) and Saccharomyces boulardii outperform acidophilus for AAD/C. difficile. Effects are strain-specific and evidence for routine baseline use without a defined indication is limited. The vaginal-health evidence often involves L. crispatus or L. rhamnosus alongside acidophilus and is more developed than several other acidophilus use contexts. See also: Probiotics (multi-strain).
Mechanism
Homofermentative Lactobacillus; produces lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide that suppress pathogenic overgrowth; adheres to intestinal epithelium; modulates Th1/Th17/Treg balance; bile-salt-hydrolase activity contributes to modest cholesterol reduction
Studied, labeled, or reported dose & route
1-10 billion CFU/day; strain specificity matters — NCFM, La-5, DDS-1 are the better-characterized strains
This records doses and routes described in studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use. It is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety; context changes with indication, formulation, health history, monitoring, and other medicines.
Citations
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Common questions
- What does the evidence show about Lactobacillus acidophilus's effects?
- Read Off Label rates the evidence for Lactobacillus acidophilus as Moderate and the benefit magnitude as low-moderate, producing an overall grade of B (6.8/10). Single-strain L.
- What safety findings are reported for Lactobacillus acidophilus?
- Lactobacillus acidophilus has a low risk profile in the database. Low (translocation/bacteremia rare but reported in immunocompromised, central-line, or short-bowel patients — case reports) Legal status: OTC.
- What doses or routes are reported for Lactobacillus acidophilus?
- 1-10 billion CFU/day; strain specificity matters — NCFM, La-5, DDS-1 are the better-characterized strains This is context from studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use; it is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety.
- How does Lactobacillus acidophilus work?
- Homofermentative Lactobacillus; produces lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide that suppress pathogenic overgrowth; adheres to intestinal epithelium; modulates Th1/Th17/Treg balance; bile-salt-hydrolase activity contributes to modest cholesterol reduction
This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.