Generic Name for Lactobacillus acidophilus Combined with Bifidobacterium Tablets
There is no single standardized generic name for combinations of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium species—these products are classified as multi-strain probiotic supplements and must be identified by their specific strain designations and formulations. 1
Why No Universal Generic Name Exists
The probiotic field requires strain-specific identification rather than generic naming because:
- Efficacy is strain-dependent: Different strains within the same species (e.g., different L. acidophilus strains) demonstrate distinct clinical effects and cannot be considered interchangeable 1
- Regulatory classification: These products are typically regulated as dietary supplements or medical foods rather than drugs, which do not require standardized generic nomenclature 1
- The "probiotic umbrella" problem: The industry often inappropriately extends claims from one tested formulation to similar but materially different products, which guidelines explicitly discourage 1
How These Products Should Be Identified
Current nomenclature standards require complete strain designations including:
- Full taxonomic name (genus, species, subspecies) 1
- Specific strain designation (e.g., ATCC numbers, DSM numbers) 1
- Exact formulation details (single vs. multi-strain, CFU counts) 1
For example, rather than a generic name, you would see: "Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285 + Bifidobacterium bifidum" or specific product names like "Infloran®" (which contains L. acidophilus NCDO 1748 and B. bifidum NCDO 2203) 2, 1
Common Commercial Formulations
Several studied combinations exist, though each has distinct strain compositions:
- Infloran®: Contains L. acidophilus and B. bifidum at specific strain designations 2
- Three-strain combinations: L. acidophilus + B. longum + Enterococcus faecalis (studied in Chinese consensus) 3
- AGA-recommended combinations: L. acidophilus CL1285 + L. casei LBC80R, or L. acidophilus + L. delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus + B. bifidum 4
Clinical Implications
When prescribing or recommending these products, specify the exact strain combination and CFU count rather than using generic terminology, as:
- Combinations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species show superior anti-inflammatory effects compared to single strains 5
- Multi-strain probiotics appear more effective at beneficial microbiome shifts than single strains 4
- Clinical trial evidence applies only to the specific strains tested, not to the genus or species level 1
Critical caveat: Avoid pooling different strains under generic names when evaluating efficacy—a meta-analysis showing benefit for "L. acidophilus" may actually reflect efficacy of only one specific strain among several tested 1