First Dose-Response Study Shows Probiotic Benefits for Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea

Probiotics, especially a high dose, may help to alleviate diarrhea symptoms associated with antibiotics use. The study was done specifically on DuPont Danisco’s (Kantvik, Finland) Howaru Restore probiotic blend and was published in Vaccine Journal.

Antibiotics usage can often result in side effects-notably antibiotic-associated diarrhea (ADD), as well as fever, bloating, and abdominal pain. Howaru Restore was found to lower both the risk and duration of ADD, as well as the other secondary effects.

This study is the first to demonstrate a dose-response link between probiotic intake and reduced ADD, DuPont Danisco says. In fact, overall, “The present study is one of the rare dose-response studies in probiotic research,” said Arthur Ouwehand, PhD, research manager, DuPont Nutrition & Health, in a press release.

The 503-subject, triple-blind study found that a high dose, especially, reduced incidence of ADD. Subjects were divided into three groups: placebo, low dose (4.17 × 10⁹ CFU) of Howaru Restore, and high dose (1.70 × 10¹⁰ CFU). Subjects supplemented with these daily up to severn days after completing their antibiotic treatment.

Compared to the placebo group’s 24.6% incidence of ADD, the high-dose group had only half that incidence, at 12.5%. The low-dose group also saw a less frequent incidence of ADD, at 19.6%, compared to placebo.

As far as secondary effects-fever, abdominal pain, and bloating-these also decreased with probiotics usage in a dose-dependent manner.

Howaru Restore comprises four types of probiotics: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus paracasei, two strains of Bifidobacterium lactis, and Bifidobacterium bifidum.