The strength of lactobacillus products is usually indicated by the number of living

organisms per capsule. Typical doses range from 1 to 10 billion living organisms
taken daily in 3-4 divided doses.
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:

For children with rotaviral diarrhea: 5 to 10 billion live Lactobacillus GG in

a solution that replaces lost water.

For treating babies and children with diarrhea:

o

10 to 100 billion live Lactobacillus reuteri daily for up to 5 days.

Lower doses may not be effective.

Also, combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus

reuteri, 10 billion live cells of each strain, twice daily for 5 days.

For preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: A specific strain

of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus GG (Culturelle) containing 20
billion live organisms daily has been used during treatment with
antibiotics. A specific beverage containing Lactobacillus casei,
Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and Streptococcus thermophilus (Actimel,
Danone) 97 mL twice daily also has been used.

For preventing diarrhea in infants and children ages 1 to 36 months:

o

6 billion live Lactobacillus GG twice daily.

A fermented milk product containing a specific Lactobacillus casei

strain DN-114 001 (DanActive, Dannon) in doses of 100 grams, 125
grams, or 250 grams daily has also been used.

For preventing and shortening the duration of diarrhea in newborns within

the first year of life in rural areas of developing countries: 100 million live
Lactobacillus sporogenes have been given daily for one year.

For preventing respiratory infections in children attending day-care

centers: 260 mL milk with 500,000 to 1 million colony-forming units of
Lactobacillus GG per mL. A milk product containing 5 billion colony
forming units each of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium
(HOWARU Protect, Danisco) in 120 mL of milk twice a day has also been
used. A milk product containing Lactobacillus 5 billion colony forming units
in 120 mL of milk twice a day has also been used.

For treating recurrent diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile: 1.25 billion

live Lactobacillus GG in two divided doses for 2 weeks.

For ulcerative colitis: a combination product containing living freeze-dried

bacteria species including lactobacillus, bifidobacteria, and streptococcus
(VSL#3) 3 grams twice daily has been used for maintenance therapy.

For patients with active mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis: VSL#3 three

grams once or twice daily in combination with conventional treatment.

For children with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis: VSL#3 450-1800

billion bacteria once a day in combination with mesalamine.

For preventing traveler's diarrhea: Lactobacillus GG, 2 billion organisms

daily.

For diarrhea due to chemotherapy: a specific strain of Lactobacillus

rhamnosus, Lactobacillus GG (Culturelle) containing 10-20 billion live
organisms daily.

For atopic dermatitis: a specific strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus,

Lactobacillus GG (Culturelle). Lactobacillus reuteri 100 million live bacteria
daily, or Lactobacillus sakei 5 billion live bacteria twice daily have also
been used.

For irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): 10 billion heat-killed Lactobacillus

acidophilus (Lacteol Fort) twice daily for 6 weeks. A specific lactobacillus
combination probiotic containing viable lyophilized bacteria species
including lactobacillus, bifidobacteria, and streptococcus (VSL#3)
containing 450 billion viable lyophilized bacteria twice daily. A specific
beverage containing Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (ProViva,
Skanemejerier, Sweden) taken twice daily.

For preventing the common cold in adults: a mixture of Lactobacillus

plantarum and Lactobacillus paracasei, 1 billion live bacteria daily.

For colic in babies: A specific Lactobacillus reuteri product (Probiotic Drops,

BioGaia AB) 100 million CFUs once daily 30 minutes after a feeding.

For preventing the serious gut condition called necrotizing enterocolitis

(NEC) in babies born prematurely: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG 6 billion
live bacteria daily.

For preventing serious lung infections in adults on ventilators:

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (Amerifit Brands Nutrition), 2 billion live
bacteria twice daily.

APPLIED INSIDE THE VAGINA:

For treating vaginal infections caused by bacteria:

o

1-2 vaginal tablets (Gynoflor, Medinova, Switzerland) daily

containing living Lactobacillus acidophilus (10 million colon-forming
units/tablet) and 0.3 mg estriol for 6 days.

Intravaginal suppositories containing 100 million to 1 billion colony

forming units of Lactobacillus acidophilus (Vivag, Pharma Vinci A/S,
Denmark) given twice daily for 6 days has also been used.

Vaginal capsules containing Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus

rhamnosus, 100 million to 1 billion colony-forming units of each
strain per capsule (EcoVag Vaginal Capsules, Bifodan A/S,
Denmark), following usual treatment, for 10 days in three menstrual
cycles following the infection has also been used.