Author: Peter Bakes, M.D.
Educational Pearls
- Probiotics are living bacteria that are taken as an oral supplement.
- Most of the data to support their use is in the prevention of antibiotic-related diarrhea and the reduction of the symptoms of ulcerative colitis (UC).
- Some studies have some a reduction of the incidence of antibiotic-related diarrhea in children of up to 12% with the use of probiotics.
- There may be a reduction of up to 60% in the incidence of antibiotic-related C. diff infection in adults with probiotic use
- Studies have shown a 10% or more reduction in the duration and severity of the symptoms of UC with probiotic use.
- Proposed mechanisms of probiotics include a decrease in gut permeability and a decrease in pathogenic gut bacteria due to resource competition.
References: http://www.cochrane.org/CD006095/IBD_use-probiotics-prevent-clostridium-difficile-diarrhea-associated-antibiotic-use