Background
- Lactobacillus GG (LGG) is a bacterium that naturally lives in the human gastrointestinal tract. LGG was named after its co-discoverers, Gorbach and Goldin. The scientific name for LGG is Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
- LGG is a probiotic. Probiotics are sometime referred to as "friendly germs." These bacteria and yeast occur naturally in the human gastrointestinal tract, where they help maintain a healthy gut and aid in digestion. LGG is most commonly recommended to treat or prevent diarrhea. It is often prescribed during antibiotic treatment to restore "good" gut microbes killed by the antibiotic.
- There is good evidence for the use of LGG in the prevention of diarrhea or acute infections in children. There is also good evidence for its use to treat or prevent other types of diarrhea, such as that associated with antibiotic therapy. However, LGG does not appear to be effective for prevention of atopic dermatitis or in maintaining remission of the inflammatory bowel disorder Crohn's disease.
- The reported effects of LGG in clinical trials are based on studies using live and freeze-dried LGG, usually suspended in a liquid, such as a rehydration drink, milk, or water. LGG can also be obtained from some dairy products, including yogurt.
References
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