Not All Probiotics Are Created Equal

Two of five probiotic preparations reduced the duration and severity of diarrhea in children.

Probiotics are used increasingly in the treatment of diarrheal illnesses. In a multisite, randomized, clinical trial conducted in Italy, 571 children (age range, 3–36 months) with acute diarrhea — who were otherwise well — received either oral rehydration solution (ORS) only or ORS followed by one of five probiotic preparations. Diarrhea was defined as three or more outputs of loose or liquid stools per day.

After receiving ORS for 3 to 6 hours, the children were fed formula containing lactose or cow’s milk. Each probiotic preparation was prescribed for 5 days and administered in 20 mL of water according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Beginning on the second day of treatment, two probiotic preparations were significantly better than the…

Reviewing Authors

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD

Disclosures

EquityMedtronic; Express Scripts; Johnson & Johnson; Merck

Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD

Disclosures

EquityMedtronic; Express Scripts; Johnson & Johnson; Merck