I have Crohn's disease. I was looking into probiotics by the names of Primal Defense and Flora Source, different strains in each. What do you think of their effectiveness with bowel issues? Thanks for the help. (August 2001)

Answer: Ken Stringer, Administrator and Webmaster of Jennifer Jensen's Nutrition Power web site responds: While the purpose of this web site is to address the nutritional ramifications and interventions associated with HIV disease, we are fielding this question because the diarrheal symptomology can be so similar. The questions and answers below offer a fuller discussion of the role of acidophilus in its several forms. Also recommended are: the questions and answers under Diarrhea Remedies on Jennifer's Q&A Page; Virtual Faculty member Donna Tinnerello's article on Diarrhea at the Always Your Choice web site; and Jennifer's Picnic Basket articles under the "Food: Keeping It In" sub-heading.

Charlie Smigelski, RD, responds: Right now, Culturelle (Lactobacillus GG) is being used in clinical trials to establish what help it offers in Crohn's disease. No adverse events have been reported in any of the six or seven trial sites. But data on changes in symptoms or pathology status is not available yet.

I am not familiar with the two probiotics the questioner mentions. I usually suggest Jarro-Dophilus, available at health food stores (or at the Houston Buyers Club) or LGG Culturelle, also available at Houston, or directly from Culturelle.

Also, I recommend about four or five grams a day of glutamine, plus the full RDA of zinc in whatever vitamin one chooses to take. Running low on this mineral or low in glutathione can cause the auto-immune system to rev up. (The glutamine supports better glutathione levels.) In this case, you want to support the regular antiviral and anti-germ part of the immune system but keep the auto-immune part calmer.

In addition, since Crohn's disease is associated with increased risk of bowel cancers, I would take 200 mcg (micrograms) of selenium a day to reduce that risk.

Question: Acidophilus, Food And Medications

Are there any foods that I should not eat while taking acidophilus? Is there any interaction with prescription medications (asthma, allergy) or while taking Prilosec and antibiotics? I am on Cipro now and I take medication for irritable bowel. Thank you for any info. (August, 2001)

Answer: Smigelski responds: There are no contra-indications for probiotics with any medicines that I know of, and certainly not with any foods. The beauty of using acidophilus products is that you already have four pounds or more of bacteria in your intestine, and the probiotics are just trying to alter the general blend toward a more favorable mix. Agents like Prilosec and Cipro and alcohol and Zantac and antibiotics can all disrupt the normal balance, so taking the probiotics is just an attempt to restore it.