BioGaia Probiotic Chewable Tablets Effective In Decreasing Diarrhoea Caused By Antibiotics - Double-Blind Trial Shows

Main Category: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 04 Mar 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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In a new double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, supplementation with BioGaia's Probiotic chewable tablets containing L. reuteri was effective in reducing the incidence of diarrhoea in hospitalised patients who were treated with antibiotics. The study, which was performed at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland Ohio, USA, was presented by Cimperman and colleagues at the Clinical Nutrition Week 2009 Conference, 1-4 February in New Orleans.

Antibiotic use leads to severe disturbances of the gut bacterial flora which in turn leads to side-effects such as diarrhoea and nausea. In the hospital environment, antibiotic-associated diarrhoea is a significant problem which can lead to prolonged hospital stay and increased costs.

In this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled pilot study, hospitalised patients receiving antibiotics (for pneumonia, abscess, bronchitis etc.) were also given either BioGaia Probiotic chewable tablets (2 per day, 13 subjects) or an identical placebo (10 subjects) for 4 weeks. Stool frequency, consistency and gastrointestinal symptoms were monitored during the 4 weeks and for a further 2 weeks after therapy was stopped.

The patients given BioGaia Probiotic chewable tablets showed a significantly lower incidence of diarrhoea compared to those given placebo (incidence of diarrhoea was 7.7% in the probiotic group compared to 50% in the placebo group, p=0.02). There were no differences in the incidence or severity of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, bloating, gas, constipation or reflux. The investigators concluded that L. reuteri significantly decreased antibiotic-associated diarrhoea among hospitalized adults and that L. reuteri was well-tolerated. The investigators plan to publish the study in a medical journal during 2009.

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BioGaia is a biotechnology company that develops, markets and sells probiotic products with documented health benefits. The products are primarily based on the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri (Reuteri), which has probiotic, health-enhancing effects. The class B share of the Parent Company BioGaia AB is quoted on the Small Cap list of the Nordic Stock Exchange in Stockholm.

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