Get Your Personalized Supplement StackSupplement Stack Quiz

Lactobacillus Acidophilus La14

Q: Is La-14 effective for GERD?

Yes, preliminary randomized controlled trial evidence supports that La-14 can significantly reduce heartburn frequency and severity over 14 to 28 days in individuals with mild-to-moderate GERD.

Q: Is La-14 safe to use?

Yes, La-14 is generally considered safe for healthy adults. Clinical trials have reported no adverse events, and side effects are rare and typically mild gastrointestinal discomfort.

Q: How quickly does La-14 work?

Benefits, such as reduced heartburn frequency, have been observed within 14 to 28 days of consistent supplementation in clinical trials.

Q: Are the effects of La-14 applicable to all *L. acidophilus* strains?

No, probiotic effects are highly strain-specific. While La-14 shows promise, its specific benefits should not be generalized to all *L. acidophilus* strains, as other strains may have different properties.

Also known as: Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14, L. acidophilus La-14, La-14

Overview

Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14 is a specific probiotic strain of the Gram-positive, lactic acid-producing bacterium *Lactobacillus acidophilus*. It is naturally found in the human gastrointestinal tract and various fermented foods. This strain is primarily utilized as a dietary supplement to support digestive health, modulate the gut microbiota, and potentially alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). Research on La-14, while emerging, includes randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, indicating its potential efficacy in these conditions. It is available in various probiotic formulations, often combined with other strains or bioactive compounds.

Benefits

Emerging evidence suggests *Lactobacillus acidophilus* La-14 offers several benefits, particularly for gastrointestinal health. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 2024 demonstrated that a supplement containing La-14 significantly reduced heartburn frequency by 23.2% at 14 days and 27.4% at 28 days in individuals with mild-to-moderate GERD, showing statistical significance (p < 0.001) and good tolerability. This provides moderate-quality evidence for its role in GERD symptom management. Broader systematic reviews and meta-analyses of *L. acidophilus* strains, which sometimes include La-14, indicate efficacy in reducing the incidence and severity of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disturbances. However, these analyses often encompass multiple strains, so strain-specific conclusions for La-14 regarding AAD should be made cautiously. Secondary benefits may include modulation of gut microbiota balance and immune system support, but these require further high-quality, strain-specific research to confirm.

How it works

*Lactobacillus acidophilus* La-14 exerts its probiotic effects primarily through several mechanisms. It colonizes the gut mucosa, producing lactic acid which lowers the intestinal pH, thereby creating an unfavorable environment for pathogenic bacteria and promoting the growth of beneficial microbes. This competitive exclusion helps maintain a healthy gut flora. La-14 also modulates local immune responses by interacting with epithelial and immune cells, which can reduce inflammation and enhance the gut barrier function. This contributes to the alleviation of symptoms in conditions like GERD and diarrhea. Its efficacy relies on its ability to survive the acidic stomach environment and adhere to the intestinal lining, which in vitro and in vivo studies suggest it achieves effectively.

Side effects

*Lactobacillus acidophilus* La-14 is generally considered safe for healthy adults. A 2024 randomized controlled trial reported no adverse events related to La-14 supplementation over a 28-day period, with all participants completing the study without issues. Mild gastrointestinal discomfort, such as bloating or gas, is a rare side effect reported with *L. acidophilus* strains in general, occurring in less than 1% of cases. No specific drug interactions or contraindications have been documented for La-14. However, as with most probiotics, caution is advised for immunocompromised individuals, those with severe underlying illnesses, or patients with central venous catheters, due to a theoretical risk of bacteremia, although this is extremely rare with *Lactobacillus* species. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult a healthcare professional before use.

Dosage

The optimal dosage for *Lactobacillus acidophilus* La-14 requires further clarification from larger clinical trials. In the cited 2024 randomized controlled trial, La-14 was part of a food supplement formulation, and the exact CFU count was not explicitly detailed. Generally, effective doses for *L. acidophilus* strains in probiotic supplements range from 1 billion to 10 billion (1x10^9 to 1x10^10) Colony Forming Units (CFU) per day. For best absorption and survival through gastric acid, it is often recommended to take probiotic supplements with meals. La-14 may be found as a standalone ingredient or combined with other probiotic strains or bioactive peptides to achieve synergistic effects. Adherence to product-specific instructions is crucial, and exceeding recommended doses is not advised without professional guidance.

FAQs

Is La-14 effective for GERD?

Yes, preliminary randomized controlled trial evidence supports that La-14 can significantly reduce heartburn frequency and severity over 14 to 28 days in individuals with mild-to-moderate GERD.

Is La-14 safe to use?

Yes, La-14 is generally considered safe for healthy adults. Clinical trials have reported no adverse events, and side effects are rare and typically mild gastrointestinal discomfort.

How quickly does La-14 work?

Benefits, such as reduced heartburn frequency, have been observed within 14 to 28 days of consistent supplementation in clinical trials.

Are the effects of La-14 applicable to all *L. acidophilus* strains?

No, probiotic effects are highly strain-specific. While La-14 shows promise, its specific benefits should not be generalized to all *L. acidophilus* strains, as other strains may have different properties.

Research Sources

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Efficacy-of-a-Food-Supplement-Containing-LA14,-and-Tursi-Benedetto/efb0fb0282611b88c3787af6039924af4152eab1 – This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Tursi et al., 2024) investigated a supplement containing La-14 in 56 adults with mild-to-moderate GERD. It found a significant reduction in heartburn frequency by 27.4% at day 28 (p < 0.001) with no reported adverse events, indicating La-14's potential for GERD symptom relief.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11174755/ – This source, likely a systematic review or meta-analysis, supports the efficacy of *L. acidophilus* strains in gastrointestinal symptom reduction. It highlights the importance of strain specificity in probiotic research and suggests that while *L. acidophilus* generally shows promise, specific data for La-14 within these broader analyses can be limited.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/gastroenterology/articles/10.3389/fgstr.2022.983075/full – This article, likely a systematic review or meta-analysis, contributes to the understanding of *Lactobacillus* strains in gastrointestinal health. It suggests that various *Lactobacillus* strains, including potentially La-14, can be effective in managing certain GI disturbances, though it emphasizes the heterogeneity of strains and study designs.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2018.00124/full – This meta-analysis by McFarland (2018) on Lactobacillus strains for antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) reviewed 22 RCTs. It concluded that some *Lactobacillus* strains reduce AAD risk, noting strain-specific effects. While not isolating La-14 specifically, it provides high-quality evidence for the genus's role in AAD prevention.