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The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
ADULTS
BY MOUTH:
- Diarrhea in people taking antibiotics (antibiotic-associated diarrhea):
- Lactobacillus 6-40 billion colony-forming units per day is commonly used. In most cases, lactobacillus treatment is initiated within 2 days of starting antibiotic treatment and continued for at least 3 days after antibiotic treatment.
- Saccharomyces boulardii 250-500 mg two to four times a day, usually not to exceed 1000 mg daily, has also been commonly used during antibiotic treatment.
- Prone to allergies and allergic reactions (atopic disease):
- Lactobacillus 10-20 billion colony-forming units daily for 2-4 weeks taken by the pregnant mother before delivery.
- Infection of the gastrointestinal tract by a bacteria called Clostridium difficile:
- Saccharomyces boulardii 500 mg twice daily (equivalent to 10 billion colony-forming units daily) for 4 weeks in combination with the prescription medications, vancomycin or metronidazole. Typically, treatment is started within 2 days of beginning antibiotic treatment and continued for up to 2 weeks after completing antibiotic treatment.
- Constipation:
- There is a wide range of doses depending on the probiotic strain being used.
- Lactobacillus 100 million colony-forming units 2-4 times daily for 4-8 weeks.
- Bifidobacteria products 100 million to 12.5 billion colony-forming units daily for 2-4 weeks.
- A digestive tract infection that can lead to ulcers (Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori):
- Various doses of lactobacillus-containing products have been used.
- Saccharomyces boulardii 500-1000 mg daily for 1-4 weeks.
- Bifidobacteria in combination with lactobacillus at a total dose of 5 billion colony-forming units daily for 1 week during standard Helicobacter triple therapy and 1 week thereafter.
- High cholesterol:
- Lactobacillus 1.2 billion colony-forming units, has been used daily for 12 weeks.
- Eating a specific yogurt or taking specific capsules containing lactobacillus 2.9-50 billion colony-forming units daily for 6-9 weeks.
- Fermented milk products providing lactobacillus 39 million to 2 billion colony-forming units daily, alone or along with other probiotic species for up to 6 weeks.
- Fermented milk 375 grams containing lactobacillus and bifidobacteria, taken daily in divided doses for 4 weeks.
- Brewer's yeast 20 grams containing chromium 48 mcg daily for 8 weeks.
- A long-term disorder of the large intestines that causes stomach pain (irritable bowel syndrome or IBS):
- There is wide variation in dosing depending on the strain of lactobacillus or bifidobacteria used.
- Lactobacillus up to 10 billion colony-forming units daily for 4 weeks.
- Bifidobacteria 100 million colony-forming units as capsules or 1 billion colony-forming units as a malted milk drink daily for 4-8 weeks.
- Saccharomyces boulardii 200 billion colony-forming units daily for 4 weeks.
- Swelling (inflammation) and sores inside the mouth (oral mucositis):
- Lozenges containing lactobacillus 2 billion colony-forming units per lozenge, dissolved in the mouth and swallowed every 2-3 hours up to six times daily. The lozenges are started on the first day of radiation/chemotherapy and continued until one week after treatment.
- A complication after surgery for ulcerative colitis (pouchitis):
- A combination probiotic containing lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, and streptococcus, 3 grams standardized to contain 300-500 billion colony-forming units per gram, taken twice daily for up to a year.
- A specific formulation containing lactobacillus 1 billion colony-forming units per capsule and bifidobacteria 600 million colony-forming units per capsule, taken in doses of two capsules three times daily for 9 months.
- Infection of the airways:
- Lactobacillus 1 billion colony-forming units daily for 12 weeks.
- Bifidobacteria 3 billion colony-forming units daily for 6 weeks.
- Travelers' diarrhea:
- Lactobacillus 2 billion colony-forming units daily, starting two days prior to a trip and continuing until the end of the trip.
- Saccharomyces boulardii 250-1000 mg daily for 1 month. *
