A special enteric coating allows Acidophilus E.C. and Bifido Plus E.C. capsules to pass through harsh stomach acids intact to deliver maximum potency to the lower intestinal tract where they are needed most. As much as 98% of the fragile, living organisms in many powders and capsules are destroyed by stomach acids before they reach the intestines.

Along with specially selected strains of live lactobacillus acidophilus and bifido bacterium (in Bifido Plus Enteric), these enteric coated capsules contain lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus, a strain which is highly resistant to antibiotics and other drugs that may be present in the intestines.

The easy-to-swallow capsules give better patient compliance than powders that must be mixed and these products are hypoallergenic. Acidophilus Enteric and Bifido Plus Enteric contain no whey, soy, corn, wheat, yeast or preservatives. Since the organisms are grown and packaged in a base of maltodextrin, these products are milk free.

Some 60 serious health problems have been related to candidiasis, the over population of the yeast/fungus candida albicans. This yeast-like organism normally lives inoffensively in most of our mucous membranes, kept in check by the beneficial lactobacillus and bifidobacteria.⁽¹³⁾

When these beneficial flora are not present in sufficient quantities, the candida population in the gastrointestinal tract multiplies suddenly. It then changes from a yeast-like form to a fungal one with long root-like structures that penetrate the mucous lining of the gastrointestinal wall, allowing substances normally confined to the GI tract to "leak" into the bloodstream.⁽¹³⁾

Incompletely digested protein which enters the bloodstream can cause the immune system to produce antibodies, resulting in severe allergic reactions, including the recently recognized cerebral allergies associated with depression, memory deficit, mood swings and behavior problems. Rapidly expanding candida colonies also produce toxins and can themselves escape into the bloodstream to be relocated almost anywhere in the body, producing dire systemic effects. A proliferation of candida albicans in children results in the common childhood condition, thrush.⁽¹³⁾

Bifido bacteria is especially needed by infants, children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Lactobacilli are present in the body from birth, but the bifidobacteria appear during the first week after birth, fostered by the presence of the bifidus factor in mother's milk. The mother's diet can affect her baby's microflora and due to rising levels of environmental contaminants, mother's milk may not be as healthful as once thought.⁽¹³⁾

• Digestive Disturbances - Both acidophilus and bifidobacteria can be helpful in alleviating a variety of digestive disturbances including constipation, diarrhea and low bowel gas, especially if caused by use of antibiotics or immunodepressant drugs.^(4,5,13)
• Lactose Intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase. Lactic bacteria produce their own lactase and also stimulate the body's ability to produce lactase.⁽¹³⁾
• Nutritional Benefits - By aiding in the synthesis of digestive enzymes, acidophilus and bifido bacteria improve the quality of food.^(8-10)
• Absorption of Vitamins and Minerals, especially calcium, is improved, making supplementation beneficial to children with growing bones as well as to adults at risk for osteoporosis.⁽¹³⁾
• Vaginal Disturbances - Beneficial effects have been seen in cases of urethritis, cystitis and vaginitis, including candida albicans,^(1,2) staphylococcus aureus⁽³⁾ and neisseria.
• Pathogenic Organisms - Acidophilus and bifidobacteria produce large quantities of acetic and lactic acid which lowers intestinal pH and inhibits growth of such pathogenic organisms as clostridium, salmonella and E. coli. Acidophilus supplementation has eliminated salmonella from long term carriers, even when prolonged antibiotic therapy has failed.^(6,7,13)
• Breath and Body Odor - Since many undesirable bacteria secrete volatile aromatic substances that are absorbed into the bloodstream, then secreted by the skin and lungs, inhibiting the growth of these bacteria may improve breath and body odor.
• Perianal Irritation - Acidophilus and bifidobacteria lower intestinal pH which can relieve itching and irritation of the sensitive perianal tissues caused by alkaline fecal matter.⁽¹⁴⁾
• Liver Disease - A study using bifidobacteria on patients with liver disease showed reductions in blood levels of ammonia, free serum phenol and free amino nitrogen, widely known toxins. Low intestinal pH helps to render ammonia unabsorbable.⁽¹⁵⁾
• Cancer Risk Factors - By lowering the levels of certain fecal bacterial enzymes which can activate carcinogens in the intestines, acidophilus may reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer.^(11,12) Laboratory studies show that acidophilus reduces the incidence of tumors in animals exposed to known carcinogens.

Lactobacillus and bifidobacteria are essential to human health, but most of us are severely lacking in these friendly organisms due to environmental factors such as.

• The habitual overuse of antibiotics in treating human ailments.⁽¹³⁾
• Use of antibiotics in animals used as food by humans.⁽¹⁶⁾
• The high beef, high fat, low fiber, high sugar diet of western societies.
• Pathogenic organisms.
• Use of birth control pills, cortisone, cortisone-like drugs and immunosuppressant drugs.⁽¹⁷⁾

High potency Acidophilus Enteric and Bifido Plus Enteric, which release beneficial micro-organisms directly into the lower intestinal tract where they are needed, can help overcome conditions that cause an imbalance of microflora.

WARNING:   This publication and the product contained herein have not been approved or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This publication, and the product contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The product relates to nutritional support only.

1. Will, T.E., Lactobacillus Overgrowth for Treatment of Moniliary Vulvovaginitis, Lancet, Sept. 1, 1979, p. 482.

2. Sandler, B., Lactobacillus for Vulvovaginitis, Lancet, Oct., 13, 1979, p 791.

3. Sanders, C., et. al., Toxic Shock Syndrome: An Ecologic Imbalance with the Genital Microflora of Women?, Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 142:977, 1982.

4. Beck, C and H. Necheles, Beneficial Effects of Administration of Lactobacillus Acidophilus in Diarrhea and Other Intestinal Disorders, Am. J. Gastroenterol., 35:522, 1961.

5. Gotz, V., et. al., Prophylaxis against Ampicillin Associated Diarrhea with a Lactobacillus Preparation, Am. J. Hosp. Pharm., 36:754, 1979.

6. Alm, L., The Effect of Lactobacillus Acidophilus upon the Survival of Salmonella in Randomly Selected Human Carriers, Prog. Fd. Nutr. Sci., 7:13, 1983.

7. Shahani, K., et. al., Natural Antibiotic Activity of Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bulgaris, Cultured Dairy Prod., J., 11:14, 1976.

8. Shahani, K., Nutritional and Healthful Aspects of Cultured and Culture-Containing Dairy Foods, J. Dairy Sci., 62:1685, 1979.

9. Shahani, K., and Ayebo, K., Role of Dietary Lactobacilli in Gastrointestinal Micro-ecology, Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 33:2448, 1980

10. Shahani, K., Nutritional Impact of Lactobacilli Fermented Foods, XVI Symposium Swed. Nutr. Found., paper no. 6789, Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station.

11. Gorbach, S.L., The Intestinal Microflora and Its Colon Cancer Connection, Infection, 10:379, 1982.

12. Goldin, et. al., Effect of Diet and Lactobacillus Acidophilus Supplements on Human Fecal Bacterial Enzymes, JNCI, 64:255, 1980.

13. Lee, W.H,, The Friendly Bacteria, Keats Publishing, New Canaan CT, 1988.

14. Heslop, J.H., Primary Pruritus Ani, Dis. Colon Rect., 9:119, 1966.

15. Muting, D., et al, The Effect of Bacterium Bifidum on Intestinal Bacterial Flora and Toxic Metabolites in Chronic Liver Disease" Am. J. of Proct., 19 (5), 1986.

16. Playing Antibiotic Pool: Time to Tally the Score," NEJMed., Vol. 331, No. 10 Sept. 6, 1984.

17. Kupsinel, Roy, "The Fungus Among Us: Candida Albicans", PPFN Journal, Vol 8, No. 1, Oct. 1983.