Is Lactobacillus Casei a good bacteria?
Answers
One of those microorganisms is called Lactobacillus casei, or L. casei. It’s one of many friendly bacteria that call your digestive system home. You probably also have some in your urinary and genital tracts.
These helpful organisms are also known as probiotics.
Unlike the harmful bacteria that make you sick, probiotics like L. casei are beneficial to your digestive system. Actually, your body depends on them. Without them, it’s much harder to digest food and absorb important nutrients.
They also help keep some of the more harmful microorganisms under control. If you don’t have enough of the good bacteria, things can get out of balance and cause trouble.
There are many types of probiotics. Along with Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus is among the most common. Within these two types of probiotics, there are many varieties.
What are the benefits of Lactobacillus Casei?
When you don’t have enough of the good bacteria, adding more L. Casei to your diet can help regulate your digestive system.
Probiotic supplements containing L. Casei are used to prevent or treat diarrhea. This includes infectious diarrhea, traveler’s diarrhea, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
It may also have some effect on other digestive problems, including:
colic
constipation
Crohn’s disease
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
lactose intolerance
ulcerative colitis
L. casei may also be useful for:
acne, hives, and fever blisters
allergies, eczema, and dermatitis
cold, flu, and respiratory infection
ear infection (otitis media)
oral health problems, such as plaque, gingivitis, and canker sores
Helicobacter pylori infection, which causes stomach ulcers
Lyme disease
necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious intestinal disease common in premature infants
rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
urinary tract and vaginal infections
Check out: Can you use probiotics to treat acid reflux? »
What the research says
Probiotics such as L. casei are generally considered safe and potentially helpful in regulating the digestive system. There have been many promising studies involving L. casei.
Researchers in a 2007 trial studied a probiotic drink containing L. casei, L. bulgaricus, and S. thermophiles. They concluded that it may reduce the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and C. difficile-associated diarrhea. No adverse events were reported.
A 2003 study showed that a probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota was a beneficial adjunctive therapy for people with chronic constipation. A later study looked at people with Parkinson’s disease. That one revealed that regular intake of milk fermented with Lactobacillus casei Shirota can improve bowel habits of people with the disease.
Researchers for a 2014 clinical trial found that L. casei supplements can help alleviate symptoms and improve inflammatory cytokines in women with RA.
There is a growing body of research into L. casei and other probiotics. But to date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved L. casei or any other probiotic for the treatment of a specific health problem.