Effectiveness ofLactobacillus helveticusandLactobacillus rhamnosusfor the management of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in healthy adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

AbstractBroad-spectrum antibiotic use can disrupt the gastrointestinal microbiota resulting in diarrhoea. Probiotics may be beneficial in managing this type of diarrhoea. The aim of this 10-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study was to investigate the effect ofLactobacillus helveticusR0052 andLactobacillus rhamnosusR0011 supplementation on antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in healthy adults. Subjects were randomised to receive 1 week of amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (875 mg/125 mg) once per day, plus a daily dose of 8×109colony-forming units of a multi-strain probiotic (n80) or placebo (n80). The probiotic or placebo intervention was maintained for 1 week after completion of the antibiotic. Primary study outcomes of consistency and frequency of bowel movements were not significantly different between the probiotic and placebo groups. The secondary outcomes of diarrhoea-like defecations, Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale scores, safety parameters and adverse events were not significantly different between the probiotic intervention and the placebo. Apost hocanalysis on the duration of diarrhoea-like defecations showed that probiotic intervention reduced the length of these events by 1 full day (probiotic, 2·70(sem0·36) d; placebo, 3·71 (sem0·36) d;P=0·037; effect size=0·52). In conclusion, this study provides novel evidence thatL. helveticusR0052 andL. rhamnosusR0011 supplementation significantly reduced the duration of diarrhoea-like defecations in healthy adults receiving antibiotics.