Yeast Infection and YogurtOkay, so I watch too many Clint Eastwood movies! But yeast infection and yogurt have starred together for decades. And about 20-30 years back I would have told you with absolute conviction to take yogurt for yeast infection - because back then there actually was a specific brand of commercially available yogurt that cured yogurt for many women.1 But - isn't there always one - the manufacturer changed the formula and whatever strain of Lactobacillus that was in that wonderful yogurt was lost. Since then, the results have not been quite so spectacular. There have been a few small trials on yogurt and yeast infections with encouraging results - there have also been trials that showed no results at all. In 1992 a one year long crossover trial gave a result that "daily ingestion of 8 ounces of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus decreased both candidial colonization and infection."2 What I did think spoke volumes about that trial was that at the half way point (6 months) when the women that HAD been eating acidophilus yogurt had to stop and become the group that DIDN'T eat the yogurt, they "refused to enter the control phrase!" Were they maybe enjoying not having a yeast infection and didn't want to risk upsetting that! And a wander round the forums will always find women who believe absolutely in yogurt for yeast infection. I'm a great believer in yogurt for general good health. I make my own yogurt and eat it daily, but in all truth, if I had a yeast infection, yogurt would not be my first choice of treatment. At this point (2008) the probiotic bacteria that are proving most helpful for vaginal infections are not being put in yogurt. Yeast infection and yogurt are no longer the dynamic duo they were back in the days of that now long-lost batch. 1. Am unable to provide the source of this. Have personally seen the document and thought it credible at the time of reading. When I find it again I will post! 2. Hilton E, Isenberg HD, Alperstein P, France K, Borenstein MT. Ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus as prophylaxis for candidial vaginitis. Ann Intern Med. 1992 Mar 1:116(5):35307.
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