Lactic acid has antimicrobial, antiviral and immunomodulatory properties, being the main substance produced by lactobacilli in the vagina. Lactobacilli produce lactic acid by fermenting glucose, with L. crispatus producing the most.
Vaginal lactic acid comes in several forms, with various lactobacilli producing these different forms. The various forms of lactic acid are modified in the vagina depending on the environment, with some forms more potent antimicrobials than others.
There’s more to lactic acid than this, but we’ll keep it simple in this post. If you’re interested in learning more, check this study1.
As lactic acid enters cells of acid-avoidant microbes, it acidifies the liquid insides, interfering with function and resulting in microbe cell death. Lactic acid also works to make bacterial cell membranes more permeable, which is damaging to the cell.
High levels of lactic acid in the vagina (i.e. a vagina dominated by L. crispatus) means a reduced incidence of contracting sexually transmitted infections like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomavirus (HPV).
One researcher likened L. crispatus to a condom in terms of protecting against HIV, which is high praise indeed.
Lactobacilli-produced lactic acid has special qualities that other acids don’t have, with immunological impacts on vaginal tissue, including an anti-inflammatory action.
Simply ‘acidifying the vagina’ to change the pH with vinegar, vitamin C, or other acidic treatments isn’t the same thing (though they can be helpful in their own ways). Lactic acid is unique.
The lactic acid produced by our lactobacilli friends is a hugely important part of keeping the vaginal ecosystem healthy.
References
- 1.Tachedjian G, Aldunate M, Bradshaw CS, Cone RA. The role of lactic acid production by probiotic Lactobacillus species in vaginal health. Research in Microbiology. Published online November 2017:782-792. doi:10.1016/j.resmic.2017.04.001
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