Yogurt is a dairy product made by fermenting milk using one or more bacteria, such as L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus.
Yogurt contains bacteria which may help restore the normal bacteria in the digestive tract and vagina. This might help treat diarrhea and vaginal infections.
People use yogurt for constipation, high cholesterol, lactose intolerance, diarrhea, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.
Don't confuse yogurt with probiotics, fermented milk, or kefir. These are not the same.
Is It Effective?
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
- Constipation. Eating a specific yogurt containing probiotics (Activia) seems to help increase bowel movements in people with constipation.
- High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia). Eating certain types of yogurt containing probiotics seems to somewhat lower cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol.
- Inability to properly digest the sugar lactose (lactose intolerance). Eating yogurt with live bacterial cultures seems to improve lactose tolerance in children and adults who are unable to fully digest lactose.
There is interest in using yogurt for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Is it Safe?
When taken by mouth: Yogurt is commonly consumed in foods. It's usually well-tolerated.
When used in the vagina: Yogurt is possibly safe when used appropriately.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: Yogurt is commonly consumed in foods. Is it possibly safe when used in the vagina while pregnant.
Breast-feeding: Yogurt is commonly consumed in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if yogurt is safe to use in the vagina when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Weakened immune system: Although rare, live bacteria in yogurt can might cause illness in people with weakened immune systems. If you have a weakened immune system, talk to your healthcare provider before eating large amounts of yogurt that contain live bacteria for prolonged periods of time.
Milk allergy: Many people allergic to milk are also allergic to yogurt. If you are allergic to milk, talk with your healthcare provider before trying yogurt.
Antibiotics (Tetracycline antibiotics)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Yogurt might decrease how much tetracycline antibiotic the body absorbs, which might decrease the effects of tetracycline antibiotics. To avoid this interaction, take yogurt two hours before or four hours after taking tetracyclines.
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic. Yogurt might decrease how much ciprofloxacin the body absorbs, which might decrease the effects of ciprofloxacin. To avoid this interaction, take yogurt at least one hour after ciprofloxacin.
Nilotinib (Tasigna)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Yogurt might increase the absorption of nilotinib by a small amount. But it does not seem to increase side effects from nilotinib.
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Yogurt is commonly eaten in foods. In the US, most yogurt is made using the probiotics Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. Some yogurts also contain Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Enterococcus faecium, and Bidifobacterium animalis.
As medicine, yogurt has most often been consumed by adults as 250 mL or 250 grams by mouth daily for 1-16 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.
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