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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.
- Constipation. A specific yogurt (Activia) seems to be beneficial for increasing bowel movements.
Login for details - Hyperlipidemia. Certain types of oral yogurt seem to modestly reduce cholesterol levels.
Login for details - Lactose intolerance. Oral yogurt with live bacterial cultures seems to increase lactose tolerance in children and adults.
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- Antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Some research suggests that oral yogurt containing certain probiotics is beneficial for antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). However, not all research agrees.
Login for details - Aspirin-associated gastric damage. It is unclear if oral yogurt can reduce the risk of aspirin-associated gastric damage.
Login for details - Asthma. It is unclear if oral yogurt can improve lung function in people with asthma.
Login for details - Athletic performance. It is unclear if oral yogurt can improve athletic performance.
Login for details - Bacterial vaginosis. It is unclear if oral or intravaginal yogurt is beneficial for bacterial vaginosis treatment or prevention.
Login for details - Cancer. It is unclear if eating yogurt prevents cancer or reduces mortality from cancer; the available research is conflicting.
Login for details - Cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is unclear if eating yogurt prevents CVD or mortality from CVD.
Login for details - Clostridioides difficile infection. It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for preventing C. difficile infection.
Login for details - Colorectal adenoma. It is unclear if eating yogurt is beneficial for preventing colorectal adenomas.
Login for details - Colorectal cancer. It is unclear if eating yogurt is beneficial for preventing colorectal cancer.
Login for details - Dental caries. It is unclear if eating yogurt is beneficial for preventing dental caries.
Login for details - Dental plaque. It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for dental plaque.
Login for details - Diabetes. It is unclear if eating yogurt is beneficial for the prevention of type 2 diabetes. It is also unclear if yogurt is beneficial for glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes.
Login for details - Diarrhea. It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for acute or persistent diarrhea.
Login for details - Exercise-induced muscle damage. It is unclear if oral yogurt can prevent exercise-induced muscle damage.
Login for details - Gingivitis. It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for gingivitis.
Login for details - Helicobacter pylori. It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for H. pylori eradication.
Login for details - Hepatic encephalopathy. It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for hepatic encephalopathy.
Login for details - HIV/AIDS. It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for HIV/AIDS; the benefits seem to depend on the strain of bacteria found in the probiotic product.
Login for details - Hypertension. It is unclear if eating yogurt helps to reduce blood pressure or prevent hypertension.
Login for details - Malnourishment-related diarrhea. Oral yogurt does not seem to be beneficial for diarrhea related to malnourishment.
Login for details - Menopausal symptoms. It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for reducing menopausal symptoms.
Login for details - Metabolic syndrome. It is unclear if eating yogurt reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome.
Login for details - Muscle strength. It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for increasing muscle strength.
Login for details - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for NAFLD.
Login for details - Obesity. It is unclear if eating yogurt reduces the risk of obesity in adults or children; the available research is limited and conflicting.
Login for details - Overall mortality. It is unclear if eating yogurt reduces the risk of mortality.
Login for details - Physical performance. It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for improving physical performance in older adults.
Login for details - Quality of life. It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for improving quality of life.
Login for details - Respiratory tract infections. Login for details
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs). It is unclear if oral yogurt is beneficial for UTI prevention.
Login for details - Vaginal candidiasis. Intravaginal yogurt has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its benefits when used alone are unclear.
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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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