Lactobacillus acidophilus LB: a useful pharmabiotic for the treatment of digestive disorders

Abstract

Dysbiosis, a loss of balance between resident bacterial communities and their host, is associated with multiple diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (nonspecific chronic ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), and digestive functional disorders. Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotic organisms and, more recently, pharmabiotics, have been shown to modulate the human microbiota. In this review, we provide an overview of the key concepts relating to probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotic organisms, and pharmabiotics, with a focus on available clinical evidence regarding the specific use of a unique pharmabiotic, the strain Lactobacillus acidophilus LB ( Lactobacillus boucardii), for the management of gastrointestinal disorders. Since it does not contain living organisms, the administration of L. acidophilus LB is effective and safe as an adjuvant in the treatment of acute diarrhea, chronic diarrhea, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea, even in the presence of immunosuppression.

Immunomodulatory Potential of Lactobacillus acidophilus: Implications in Bone Health

“…Lactobacillus species have various qualities that make them suitable as probiotics. They are resistant to stomach pH and bile juices, can adhere to the mucosa, inhibit growth of other harmful bacterial species and have immunomodulatory properties [19]. Lactobacilli encompass a wide range of species that have role in various biochemical and physiological functions [10].…”

“…LA is one of the most known species belonging to Lactobacillus genus. LA was earlier named as Bacillus acidophilus and first isolated in 1900 from the human infant feces by Moro [19]. Almost 80% of the yogurts in America have LA [19].…”

“…LA was earlier named as Bacillus acidophilus and first isolated in 1900 from the human infant feces by Moro [19]. Almost 80% of the yogurts in America have LA [19]. LA is rod shaped homofermentative anaerobic having size of approximatively 2-10 μM.…”

“…Various commercially available food products such as yogurt and milk are supplemented with LA due to its probiotic value [19]. LA is part of human microbiota and is isolated from digestive, oral and vaginal areas but Claesson's characterization revealed that gastrointestinal tract is its main environment [19]. It is observed that LA supplementation to humans in heat killed form is completely safe.…”

“…LA is found effective in the treatment of various inflammatory disorders like IBD, diabetes, cancer, etc. [19]. LA prevents these inflammatory disorders by regulating the immune homeostasis.…”