Adding Fem Dophilus to Yogurt

by Mary
(UK)

Q. I have ordered some Fem-Dophilus. My problem is the dextrose in it. I am very sensitive to it. Previously, by making yogurt with other strains of bacteria I have been able to reduce the lactose and turn it into lactic acid (in goats milk). I am hoping to do this with Fem-Dophilus. Can I combine it with a starter culture of L.Acidophilus, S.Thermophilus and L.Bulgaricus? If not, what can I combine it with?



A. I'm afraid I can't give you a really clear answer on this.

Yes, you can empty the powder out of Fem Dophilus and add it to yogurt made with Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.

This has been done in two scientific studies.

In the first study, Yogurt containing probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14 helps resolve moderate diarrhea and increases CD4 count in HIV/AIDS patients, adding the two probiotics that are in Fem Dophilus to a yogurt made with Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus helped with diarrhea, flatulence and nausea in all of the patients within 2 days.

In the second study, Growth and survival of Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 in yogurt for use as a functional food, they showed that although it is possible to add both of the bacteria, the L reuteri RC-14 did not survive very well. The L rhamnosus GR1 survived well and was still viable 28 days after refridgeration.

I'm guessing that the acidophilus is unlikely to "fight" with the two probiotics from the Fem Dophilus although I have no proof of this. Many bacteria don't coexist with others of their kind.

So, for immediate use there should be no problem of adding Fem Dophilus to yogurt.

For use after storage then only the L rhamnosus GR-1 is likely to still be present in large numbers.

L. rhamnosus GR-1 adheres to urogenital cells and stops the growth and adhesion of harmful bacteria. It is also resistant to the spermicide nonoxynol.

The two starter bacteria are excellent choices for converting lactose into lactic acid. They do this much better than all the fancy probiotics do!

However, your main problem is the dextrose that is added to Fem Dophilus. This is the sort of thing that no one studies and so there is no information out there. My guess is, I don't think the dextrose would be converted by the yogurt in the same way that lactose is. Now, I'm not a scientist so I stand to be corrected on this, but I note that dextrose is often added to yogurt (particularly frozen yogurts and soy) so I'm assuming it remains unchanged.

So if you're very sensitive to it, I think it would still be a problem.

There is another brand, Clinicians, with a product called Flora Restore but it also contains the dextrose.

I know some women add the contents of Fem Dophilus capsules to yogurt and use it vaginally. Depending on why you want to take Fem Dophilus, this might be a possible way round that problem.

It does sound as if a commercial yogurt will be produced with L rhamnosus GR1 in it in the foreseeable future. One is available in Tanzania already - but that's not much help to you or me right now!