L. acidophilus in epilepsy

Abstract

Since the gastro-intestinal tract has long been under suspicion in epilepsy, it appeared worth while to study the transformation of the intestinal flora effected by L. acidophilus, and any influence this effect might have upon the number of convulsions. A series of 15 epileptics were carefully observed for one month. Twelve of these then received one litre of sterile milk daily for 42 days. All 15 patients were then given one litre of L. acidophilus milk daily for 2 to 3 months. The methods employed have been described elsewhere. 1

Three patients had only one convulsion per month, or less, and are therefore disregarded. Of 12 other patients studied, 4 showed a rather striking reduction in the number of convulsions. One of these, who had 122 convulsions in 23 days during the 28-day preliminary period, had an average of 5 convulsions per month for the three months during which he received L. acidophilus milk.

Epileptics are notoriously prone to show improvement under almost any form of treatment, but in view of the sterile milk control and another control group of epileptics who showed little benefit from kaolin administration at the same time, these results seem encouraging enough to enlarge the series. Further work is now in progress.