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Fermented milk is made when milk is allowed to ferment with lactic acid bacteria, such as Lactobacilli. This makes it easier for some people to digest.
Fermentation breaks down milk proteins and lactose. This benefits people with milk protein allergies and lactose intolerance. Fermentation also increases how long milk products will last on the shelf.
People use fermented milk for common cold, diarrhea from antibiotics, eczema, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and lactose intolerance. It is also used for asthma, constipation, hay fever, stomach ulcers, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Don't confuse fermented milk with other fermented dairy products, such as kefir and yogurt. These are not the same.
- Antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Small clinical studies suggest that drinking fermented milk might prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Login for details - Atopic dermatitis (eczema). Drinking fermented milk toward the end of pregnancy and in the first few months postpartum might prevent atopic dermatitis in children.
Login for details - Common cold. Drinking fermented milk might prevent the common cold in children and adults.
Login for details - Diarrhea. Clinical research suggests that drinking fermented milk might reduce the duration of diarrhea in infants and children. There are mixed findings related to the use of fermented milk to prevent acute diarrhea in this population.
Login for details - Helicobacter pylori. Small clinical studies suggest that drinking fermented milk might improve H. pylori-related symptoms in adults and improve H. pylori eradication rates in children.
Login for details - Hypercholesterolemia. Analysis of clinical research suggests that taking fermented milk products might slightly reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in patients with or without hypercholesterolemia, with overweight or obese individuals benefitting the most.
Login for details - Hypertension. Small clinical studies suggest that drinking fermented milk or taking fermented milk tablets might lower systolic but not diastolic blood pressure in patients with hypertension.
Login for details - Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Drinking fermented milk might improve bloating, flatulence, and pain in patients with IBS.
Login for details - Lactose intolerance. Small clinical studies suggest that drinking fermented milk reduces gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with lactose intolerance.
Login for details - Radiation-induced diarrhea. Small clinical studies suggest that drinking fermented milk might reduce diarrhea and bowel discomfort in patients with radiation-induced diarrhea.
Login for details - Rotaviral diarrhea. Small clinical studies suggest that drinking fermented milk for 5 days reduces the duration of rotaviral diarrhea by around 1-1.4 days in children.
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- Asthma. Drinking fermented milk does not seem to reduce the number of asthma episodes in children. Also, drinking fermented milk during pregnancy does not appear to prevent the development of asthma in children.
Login for details - Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Drinking fermented milk does not seem to prevent URTIs in children or nursing home residents.
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- Allergic rhinitis (hay fever). It is unclear if drinking fermented milk can prevent allergic rhinitis in children or improve nasal or ocular symptoms in children and adults; research is mixed and of low quality.
Login for details - Biliary disorders. Login for details
- Bladder cancer. It is unclear if drinking fermented milk can prevent bladder cancer.
Login for details - Breast cancer. It is unclear if drinking fermented milk can prevent breast cancer.
Login for details - Cancer. Observational research suggests that drinking fermented milk might slightly reduce the risk of cancer-related mortality in females but not males.
Login for details - Child growth. It is unclear if drinking fermented milk improves growth in children.
Login for details - Colorectal cancer. It is unclear if drinking fermented milk can prevent colorectal cancer.
Login for details - Constipation. It is unclear if drinking fermented milk is beneficial in patients with constipation; clinical research is mixed.
Login for details - Coronary heart disease (CHD). It is unclear if drinking fermented milk can prevent CHD.
Login for details - Dental caries. Login for details
- Diabetes. It is unclear if drinking fermented milk is beneficial in patients with diabetes.
Login for details - Dyspepsia. Login for details
- Flatulence. Login for details
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Login for details
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is unclear if drinking fermented milk is beneficial in patients with IBD.
Login for details - Obesity. Login for details
- Osteoarthritis. Login for details
- Osteoporosis. Login for details
- Overall mortality. It is unclear if drinking fermented milk can reduce the risk of mortality.
Login for details - Peptic ulcers. It is unclear if drinking fermented milk can prevent the development of peptic ulcers.
Login for details - Stroke. It is unclear if drinking fermented milk can reduce the risk of stroke.
Login for details - Ulcerative colitis. It is unclear if drinking fermented milk is beneficial in patients with ulcerative colitis; findings from low-quality clinical studies are mixed.
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When taken by mouth: Fermented milk is commonly consumed in foods. As medicine, fermented milk is possibly safe when used for up to one year. Side effects might include stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, gas, and constipation.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if fermented milk is safe or what the side effects might be.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Fermented milk is commonly consumed in foods. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe to use in larger amounts as medicine while pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.Children: Fermented milk is commonly consumed in foods. It is possibly safe when taken by mouth in larger amounts as medicine for up to 5 days.
Weakened immune system: Some fermented milk products contain live bacteria. This bacteria might grow too well in people whose immune systems are weakened. To be on the safe side, if you have a weakened immune system, talk with your healthcare provider before taking fermented milk products.
Antibiotic drugs
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some fermented milk products contain friendly bacteria. Antibiotics are used to reduce harmful bacteria. Taking antibiotics with fermented milk might reduce the effects of fermented milk by also reducing the friendly bacteria. To avoid this, antibiotics and fermented milk should be taken at least 2 hours apart.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Fermented milk might lower blood pressure. Taking fermented milk along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Fermented milk can increase the activity of the immune system. Some medications, such as those used after a transplant, decrease the activity of the immune system. Taking fermented milk along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure: Fermented milk might lower blood pressure. Taking it with other supplements that have the same effect might cause blood pressure to drop too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include andrographis, casein peptides, L-arginine, niacin, and stinging nettle.
Iron: Fermented milk might increase how much iron the body absorbs. This might increase the risk of absorbing too much iron in some people.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Fermented milk products are commonly consumed in foods. They often contain live bacteria, such as lactobacillus. As medicine, fermented milk has most often been used by adults in doses from 100-300 mL by mouth daily for up to 12 weeks. In children, it's most often been used in doses of 100 mL by mouth daily for up to 12 months. 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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