School center Maarif Schools of Sarajevo

( Škole „ Maarif“ Sarajevo)

Lactobacillus Acidophilous

Name of a student: Lamija Hodžić

Class: G3-c

Content
Lactobacillus acidophilus is a beneficial bacterium or probiotic found in the human digestive
system. It promotes gut health by producing lactic acid, creating an environment unfavorable
to harmful bacteria.
This bacterium aids in nutrient absorption, particularly for individuals with lactose
intolerance, and has potential benefits for gut motility and mental health through the gut-brain
axis. Including acidophilus-rich foods like yogurt and kefir in one”s diet supports overall
digestive well-being.

1. Acidophilus
Acidophilus (Lactobacillus acidophilus) is type of probiotic (“good” bacteria) found in the
human gut, mouth and vagina, and also in certain foods.1

Figure 1: The shape of Lactobacillus acidophillus

As a supplement, acidophilus is available as capsules, tablets, wafers, powders and a vaginal

suppository. In addition to use as a supplement acidophilus is found in some dairy products,
such as yogurt, and is commercially added to many foods.
People commonly take acidophilus to treat a type of vaginal inflammation ( bacterial
vaginosis) and digestive disorders, as well as to promote the growth of good bacteria.2

It”s a member of the Lactobacillus genus of bacteria, and it plays an important role in human
health. Its name gives an indication of what it produces – lactic acid. It does this by
producing an enzyme called lactase. Lactase breaks down lactose, sugar found in milk, into
lactic acid.3

Figure 2: Pathway by which glucose is converted to lactic acid as a means of energy production

1
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-790/lactobacillus-acidophilus ( 25.11.2023. 13:26)

2
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-acidophilus/art-20361967 ( 25.11.2023. 13:28)

3
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lactobacillus-acidophilus ( 25.11.2023. 13:31)
 1.1 Usage and effectivnes

Acidophilus ( Lactobacillus acidophilus),a bacterium found in the mouth, intestine, and

vagina, is used as a probiotic. Probiotics are good bacteria that are either the same as or very
similar to the bacteria that are already in your body. Each type of probiotic supplement- and
each strain of each type can work in different ways.
As a supplement, acidophilus is available as capsules, tablets, wafers, powders and a vaginal
suppository. In addition to use as a supplemet, acidophilus is found in some dairy products,
such as yogurt, and is commercially added to many foods.

People commonly take acidophilus to treat a type of vaginal inflammation ( bacterial

vaginosis) and digestive disorders, as well to promote the growth of good bacteria.

Bacterial vaginosis. Oral use of acidophilus and use of vaginal acidophilus suppositories or
application of yogurt containing acidophilus to the vagina has been shown to be effective in
treating this type of vaginal inflammation.

Lung infections. Acidophilus might play a role in reducing the number and severity of
respiratory infections children experience.

Certain types of diarrhea. When taken with antibiotics, a combination of acidophilus and
other specific forms of lactobacillus might reduce diarrhea, bloating and cramps caused by a
bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life- threatening inflammation
of the colon ( C. difficile infection). The probiotic formulation might also reduce the
occurance of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and C. difficile infection in people who are
hospitalized.

Eczema. Oral use of acidophilus during pregnancy, by breast-feeding mothers and by infants
appears to reduce the occurrence of eczema ( atopic dermatitis) in infants and young
children.4

Figure 3: Capsules with Lactobacillus acidophilus

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https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-acidophilus/art-20361967 (25.11.2023. 13:58)
1.2. Reaping the acidophilus

Acidophilus is a normal bacteria in healthy intestines, but you can reap a number of health
benefits by taking it as a supplement or consuming foods that contain it.
The best food sources of acidophilus are:

Yogurt: Yogurt is typically made from bacteria such as L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus.
Some yogurts also contain L. acidophilus, but only those that list it in the ingredients and
state “live and active cultures”.

Kefir: Kefir is made of “grains” of bacteria and yeast, which can be added to milk or water to
produce a healthy fermented drink. The types of bacteria and yeast in kefir can vary, but it
commonly contains acidophilus, among others.

Miso: Miso is a paste originating from Japan that is made by fermenting soybeans. Although
the primary microbe in miso is a fungus called Aspergillus oryzae, miso can also contain
many bacteria including L. acidophilus.5

Figure 5: Sauerkraut

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https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lactobacillus-acidophilus (4.12.2023. 20:43)
1.3. Dairy industry usage

As stated in a journal from the American Dairy Science Association, "Lactobacillus

acidophilus is a commercial strain and probiotic that is widely used in the dairy industry to
obtain high-quality fermentation products." Increased levels of beneficial bacteria, and
decreased levels of pathogenic bacteria within the intestine due to the consumption of
fermented milk containing strains of L. acidophilus has a range of probiotic effects. Reduced
serum cholesterol levels, stimulated immune response, and improved lactic acid digestion are
all probiotic effects associated with intestinal L. acidophilus presence. L. acidophilus was
also effective in reducing Streptococcus mutans levels in saliva, as well as decreasing risk
factors associated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The strain of L.
acidophilus that has been most widely researched, and is most widely used as an antibiotic
and is referred to as NCFM.6

Figure 4: An example of fermented milk, a dairy product L. acidophilus is commonly added to for probiotic
effects

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactobacillus_acidophilus (25.11.2023. 16:12)
1.4. Quorum sensing

Quorum sensing among cells is the process among which cell signaling can lead to
coordinated activities which can ultimately help bacteria control gene expression in a
consecutive sequence. This is accomplished via detection of small autoinducers which are
secreted in response to increasing cell-population density. In Lactobacillus
acidophilus, which can be found in the gastrointestinal tract, quorum sensing is important for
bacterial interaction when considering biofilm formation and toxin secretion. In L.
acidophilus, along with many other bacteria, the luxS-mediated quorum sensing is involved in
the regulation of behavior. In monoculture, the production of LuxS increased during the
exponential growth phase and started to plateau as it progressed to the stationary phase. Up-
regulation of luxS can occur when L. acidophilus is placed in co-cultivation with
another Lactobacillus species.

1.5. Side effects

Although probiotics are generally safe, when they are used by oral administration there is a
small risk of passage of viable bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract to the blood stream
(bacteremia), which can cause adverse health consequences. Some people, such as those with
a compromised immune system, short bowel syndrome, central venous catheters, cardiac
valve disease and premature infants, may be at higher risk for adverse events.7

Figure 5: Health benefits of Lactobacillus

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactobacillus_acidophilus (25.11.2023. 16:16)
Links

1. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-790/lactobacillus-acidophilus

2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-acidophilus/art-20361967

3. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lactobacillus-acidophilus

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactobacillus_acidophilus