title: Ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus as prophylaxis for candidal vaginitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether daily ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus prevents vulvovaginal candidal infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Crossover trial for at least 1 year during which patients were examined for candidal infections and colonizations while receiving either a yogurt-free or a yogurt-containing diet. Patients served as their own controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ambulatory infectious disease center in a teaching hospital providing tertiary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three women with recurrent candidal vaginitis were eligible after recruitment from community practices and clinics and through advertising. Twelve patients were eliminated for protocol violations. Of the remaining 21 patients, 8 who were assigned to the yogurt arm initially refused to enter the control phase 6 months later. Thus, 13 patients completed the protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women ate yogurt for 6 months of the study period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Colonization of lactobacilli and candida in the vagina and rectum; candidal infections of the vagina.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three eligible patients were studied. A threefold decrease in infections was seen when patients consumed yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus. The mean (+/- SD) number of infections per 6 months was 2.54 +/- 1.66 in the control arm and 0.38 +/- 0.51 per 6 months in the yogurt arm (P = 0.001). Candidal colonization decreased from a mean of 3.23 +/- 2.17 per 6 months in the control arm to 0.84 +/- 0.90 per 6 months in the yogurt arm (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily ingestion of 8 ounces of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus decreased both candidal colonization and infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY 11042.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hilton
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Isenberg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alperstein
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: France
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Borenstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D012008:Recurrence; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D015014:Yogurt / Q000382:microbiology*