title: Oral use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 significantly alters vaginal flora: randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 64 healthy women.
abstract: Urogenital infections afflict an estimated one billion people each year. The size of this problem and the increased prevalence of multi-drug resistant pathogens make it imperative that alternative remedies be found. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 64 healthy women given daily oral capsules of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus fermentum RC-14 for 60 days showed no adverse effects. Microscopy analysis showed restoration from asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis microflora to a normal lactobacilli colonized microflora in 37% women during lactobacilli treatment compared to 13% on placebo (P=0.02). Lactobacilli were detected in more women in the lactobacilli-treated group than in the placebo group at 28 day (P=0.08) and 60 day (P=0.05) test points. Culture findings confirmed a significant increase in vaginal lactobacilli at day 28 and 60, a significant depletion in yeast at day 28 and a significant reduction in coliforms at day 28, 60 and 90 for lactobacilli-treated subjects versus controls. The combination of probiotic L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 is not only safe for daily use in healthy women, but it can reduce colonization of the vagina by potential pathogenic bacteria and yeast.
authors.affiliation: Lawson Health Research Institute, Canadian Research and Development Center for Probiotics, 268 Grosvenor Street, London, ON, Canada N6A 4V2. gregor@uwo.ca
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Duane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Charbonneau
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Erb
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kochanowski
authors.forename: Dee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beuerman
authors.forename: Russ
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poehner
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Bruce
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*