Kefir

• What other names is Kefir known by?
• What is Kefir?
• How does Kefir work?
• Are there safety concerns?
• Are there any interactions with medications?
• Dosing considerations for Kefir.

What other names is Kefir known by?

Fermented Dairy Product, Fermented Milk, Fromage Kéfir, Kéfir, Kefir Cheese, Kefir Grains, Kefir Yogurt, Lait Fermenté, Produit Laitier Fermenté.

What is Kefir?

Kefir is a product made by fermenting milk.

People use kefir for poor digestion, upset stomach, lactose intolerance, diarrhea following treatment with antibiotics, and high cholesterol.

Likely Ineffective for...

• Lowering serum cholesterol. Research shows that taking kefir has little or no effect on cholesterol levels.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Diarrhea associated with taking antibiotics. Some research shows that a specific kefir-containing drink (Probugs, Lifeway Foods, Inc.) does not reduce diarrhea in children caused by antibiotics.
• Soreness and swelling inside the mouth, caused by chemotherapy (oral mucositis). Early research shows that rinsing the mouth with kefir and swallowing 250 mL of kefir twice daily for the first 5 days of chemotherapy does not prevent the development of sores inside the mouth caused by chemotherapy.
• Lactose intolerance.
• Improving digestion.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of kefir for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).