Culturelle Uses

Culturelle is a name brand of a probiotic distributed by Amerifit. It contains a type of beneficial bacteria called Lactobacillus GC. The National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) says that probiotics may help because they resemble the good bacteria normally in the digestive tract. The uses of Culturelle include maintaining digestive health, strengthening immunity, preventing antibiotic side effects and warding off traveler's diarrhea.

Digestive Aid

• The distributor states that the Lactobacillus GC bacteria in Culturelle promote normal digestion. By increasing the ratio of good to bad bacteria in your digestive tract, Culturelle can help you recover from common diarrhea, digestive upsets, irregularity and constipation.

Immune System Support

• Your digestive system accounts for 70 percent of your immune response, according to Amerifit. By helping normalize your digestion, Culturelle improves your resistance when you come under stress. Culturelle withstands the acid environment of the stomach well and contains living bacteria. Although most yogurt contains active cultures, it has only one-tenth of the beneficial flora in one capsule of Culturelle.

Culturelle with Antibiotics

• When you take antibiotics, your doctor may recommend taking Culturelle at the same time to prevent digestive disturbances or diarrhea. She may also recommend continuing Culturelle after you finish antibiotics to help restore a balance of healthy microorganisms in your body.

Prevent Traveler's Diarrhea

• As many as 30 percent to 50 percent of travelers to areas with impure water become ill with traveler's diarrhea. The Lactobacillus GC in Culturelle is the best-known strain of probiotic for preventing traveler's diarrhea. According to the NCCAM, the evidence so far supports the benefits of probiotics against diarrhea.

Other Possible Uses

• According to the NCCAM, research on probiotics has not advanced very far, but some other possible uses have been identified. Early studies suggest possible benefits in treating urinary or female genital infections and irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotics may also shorten a severe intestinal infection called Clostridium difficile. In addition, use of probiotics may improve children's dermatitis or eczema. However, the NCCAM says that in many cases only small improvement of these conditions resulted from probiotic use, and that these problems also respond well to placebos.

Warning and Disclaimer

• According to the NCCAM, people have consumed live microorganisms for a long time, but more studies are needed to establish the safety of probiotics for everyone. Side effects usually involve minor digestive complaints, but more serious problems could occur. Because the FDA has not evaluated health claims for Culturelle, Amerifit does not promote its use as a cure. The NCCAM concurs that further research is necessary before concluding that probiotics can cure diseases. Consult your physician before using probiotics as a treatment for illness and if you develop side effects.