Evidence supporting the use of: Acidophilus
For the health condition: Vaginitis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Lactobacillus acidophilus is a probiotic bacterium commonly used to support vaginal health, including the treatment and prevention of vaginitis. Scientific interest in acidophilus stems from the observation that a healthy vaginal microbiota is typically dominated by lactobacilli, which help maintain an acidic pH and inhibit the growth of pathogens. Several clinical studies and reviews have evaluated the effectiveness of orally or vaginally administered acidophilus (and other lactobacilli) in the management of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and other forms of vaginitis.

Evidence indicates that supplementation with acidophilus may help to restore the balance of vaginal flora, particularly after antibiotic therapy or in recurrent BV. Some randomized controlled trials have shown that probiotic use—especially when administered vaginally—can increase cure rates or decrease recurrence rates for BV compared to placebo. However, results are mixed, and not all studies find significant benefit, especially with oral probiotics alone. The overall quality of evidence is moderate, with some methodological limitations, variability in probiotic strains and doses, and inconsistent outcome measures.

In summary, there is scientific evidence for the use of acidophilus in supporting vaginal health and treating certain types of vaginitis, with the most promising results seen for bacterial vaginosis. The evidence is not unequivocal, and more high-quality, standardized trials are needed, but the use of acidophilus for this indication is supported by current research.

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Products containing Acidophilus

We currently have no products on Caring Sunshine that contain this ingredient.