Ruthy,

I don't know anything hot-off-the-press about acidophilus, but would suggest
the article in Annals of Internal Medicine, 1992; 116: 353-357, "Ingestion
of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophius as prophylaxis for candidal
vaginitis" (E. Hilton et al). The women who ate this yogurt had less
candidal colonization and infection.

A more recent ref is E. Shalev et al in Arch Fam Med 1996; 5: 593-596,
"Ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus compared with pasteurized
yogurt as prophylaxis for recurrent candidal vaginitis and bacterial
vaginosis". However, rates of candida were the same in both yogurt groups -
but it did show an increase in Lactobacilli in the rectum and vagina
(refuting the argument that the bacteria will all be destroyed by acid in
the stomach).

I don't know of any studies in breastfeeding women (as usual!)

As Jack would say, you could ask the doctor to show proof of harm to mother
or baby if the mother takes acidophilus.

BTW, doctors in Australia have been given free samples of Nestle's "Live
culture yogurt" and lots of stuff on how the acidophilus binds to intestinal
cells and prevents invasion by enterovirulent bacteria (the ref they give is
Gut 1994; 35: 483-489). At our clinic we rang Nestle and asked them to take
the yogurt back, which they refused. Although we may not approve of Nestle
as a formula-company, they may actually help with this acidophilus- thing by
paying for research. It would not be too hard to plan a study where people
given antibiotics were randomized to receive acidophilus or not, and then
cultures taken for candida in vagina or baby's mouth and mothers monitored
for nipple/ breast pain.

Lisa Amir
GP / IBCLC in Melbourne, Australia