Streptococcus Thermophilus is a powerful probiotic strain that has well researched health benefits. This probiotic is often found in the colon and has many digestive, immunity & many other researched health benefits.
Steptococcus thermophilus is used for culturing cheese as well as yogurt. This probiotic strain also produces lactase, which helps people digest milk more efficiently. Lastly, probiotic Streptococcus thermophilus also produces antibiotic chemicals to prevent infection from infections like pneumonia, C. difficile and can help prevent ulcers.
Researched Benefits of S. thermophilus:
Improve Digestion
- Reduce antibiotic associated diarrhea
- Decrease ulcerative colitis symptoms
- Decrease leaky gut symptoms
- Improve lactose digestion
- Decrease IBS symptoms
- Decrease acute diarrhea
Enhance Immunity
- Prevent & fight upper respiratory infections (eg. pneumonia)
- Prevent ulcers caused by H. pylori
- Decrease AIDS symptoms
- Fight Clostridium difficile
- Increase immunity
Additional Health Benefits
- Improve non-breast-fed infant probiotic flora
- Reduce symptoms of atopic dermatitis
- Decrease chance of kidney stones
- Increase HDL (good cholesterol)
- Increase anti-tumor activity
- Decrease baby colic
Side Effects of S. Thermophilus
Like every probiotic, S. Thermophilus has a list of relatively minor side effects.
References
Corrêa NB, Péret Filho LA, Penna FJ, Lima FM, Nicoli JR. A randomized formula controlled trial of Bifidobacterium lactis and Streptococcus thermophilus for prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in infants. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2005 May-Jun;39(5):385-9.
Di Marzio L, Centi C, Cinque B, Masci S, Giuliani M, Arcieri A, Zicari L, De Simone C, Cifone MG. Effect of the lactic acid bacterium Streptococcus thermophilus on stratum corneum ceramide levels and signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis patients. Exp Dermatol. 2003 Oct;12(5):615-20.
Jain PK, McNaught CE, Anderson AD, MacFie J, Mitchell CJ. Influence of synbiotic containing Lactobacillus acidophilus La5, Bifidobacterium lactis Bb 12, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and oligofructose on gut barrier function and sepsis in critically ill patients: a randomised controlled trial. Clin Nutr. 2004 Aug;23(4):467-75.
Mater DD, Bretigny L, Firmesse O, Flores MJ, Mogenet A, Bresson JL, Corthier G. Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus survive gastrointestinal transit of healthy volunteers consuming yogurt. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2005 Sep 15;250(2):185-7.
Nopchinda S, Varavithya W, Phuapradit P, Sangchai R, Suthutvoravut U, Chantraruksa V, Haschke F. Effect of bifidobacterium Bb12 with or without Streptococcus thermophilus supplemented formula on nutritional status. J Med Assoc Thai. 2002 Nov;85 Suppl 4:S1225-31.
Saavedra JM, Bauman NA, Oung I, Perman JA, Yolken RH. Feeding of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Streptococcus thermophilus to infants in hospital for prevention of diarrhoea and shedding of rotavirus. Lancet. 1994 Oct 15;344(8929):1046-9.
Thibault H, Aubert-Jacquin C, Goulet O. Effects of long-term consumption of a fermented infant formula (with Bifidobacterium breve c50 and Streptococcus thermophilus 065) on acute diarrhea in healthy infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2004 Aug;39(2):147-52.
Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2017 Oct;73(10):1199-1208 Efficacy and safety of probiotic-supplemented triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in children: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Jue-Rong Feng
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of synbiotic yogurt effect on the health of children. Ringel-Kulka T, Kotch JB, Jensen ET, Savage E, Weber DJ. J Pediatr. 2015 Jun;166(6):1475
