Probiotics for treatment of acute diarrhoea in children: randomised clinical trial of five different preparations

Abstract

Objective To compare the efficacy of five probiotic preparations recommended to parents in the treatment of acute diarrhoea in children.Design Randomised controlled clinical trial in collaboration with family paediatricians over 12 months. Setting Primary care.Participants Children aged 3-36 months visiting a family paediatrician for acute diarrhoea.Intervention Children's parents were randomly assigned to receive written instructions to purchase a specific probiotic product: oral rehydration solution (control group); Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG; Saccharomyces boulardii; Bacillus clausii; mix of L delbrueckii var bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus, L acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum; or Enterococcus faecium SF68.Main outcome measures Primary outcomes were duration of diarrhoea and daily number and consistency of stools. Secondary outcomes were duration of vomiting and fever and rate of admission to hospital. Safety and tolerance were also recorded.Results 571 children were allocated to intervention. Median duration of diarrhoea was significantly shorter (P<0.001) in children who received L rhamnosus strain GG (78.5 hours) and the mix of four bacterial strains (70.0 hours) than in children who received oral rehydration solution alone (115.0 hours). One day after the first probiotic administration, the daily number of stools was significantly lower (P<0.001) in children who received L rhamnosus strain GG and in those who received the probiotic mix than in the other groups. The remaining preparations did not affect primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were similar in all groups.

Human mucosal in vivo transcriptome responses to three lactobacilli indicate how probiotics may modulate human cellular pathways

“…The proposed health benefits include reduction of intestinal infection risk, allergies, and atopic eczema (6,7) and relief from symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (8). However, placebo-controlled cross-over studies to scientifically support these health claims have shown different success rates (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18).…”

A Study of Probiotics Use in the Acute Diarrhoea in the Infants & Children

“…Isolaruri et al 1994 (26) observed that the mean duration of diarrheoa was significantly lower in probiotics treated group (1.4 day) compared to yoghurt treated group (2.4 days). While with use of probiotics Billoo et al 2000 (27) , Jobst Henker et al (21) , Enduardo et al (22) Roberto Berni Canani et al (28) and Khanna et al 2000 (23) observed that the mean duration of diarrhoea was 3.6 days, 2.5 days, 58.5 hours, 78.5 hours and 58.78 hours respectively. Similarly Szajewska H. et al 2006; (29) observed that probiotics use were significantly reduced the duration of diarrhoea.…”

Antiviral Properties of Probiotic Mixtures against Rotavirus in the Rat

“…L. acidophilus has been reported to increase gastrointestinal tract resistance to bile, acid pH, and digestive enzymes (Collado et al, 2009). L. rhamnosus has been demonstrated to rotavirus diarrhea in children (Vanderhoof et al, 1999;Guandalini et al, 2000;Canaani et al, 2007), and L. plantarum, which is present in fermented food products, such as, Korean kimchi, helps antimicrobials survive in the human gastrointestinal tract (Nybom et al, 2008;Bixquert Jiménez, 2009;Bested et al, 2013).…”