Probiotics for gastroenteritis
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Probiotics for Gastroenteritis: Evidence Overview
Probiotics and Acute Gastroenteritis in Children
Research shows that certain probiotics may help manage acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children, especially when used alongside standard rehydration therapy. The most studied strains are Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii, both of which have been recommended for use in children, though the quality of evidence is generally low to very low. These strains may reduce the duration of diarrhea and hospitalization, particularly in cases caused by rotavirus infection. However, the benefits are modest, and not all probiotic strains are effective. For example, there is a strong recommendation against using a combination of L. helveticus R0052 and L. rhamnosus R0011, as evidence does not support their benefit in treating AGE in children178.
Probiotics for Viral Gastroenteritis
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses indicate that probiotics can improve symptoms of viral gastroenteritis, such as reducing the duration of diarrhea by about 0.7 days and shortening hospital stays by approximately 0.76 days. These benefits are most evident in cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis, with strains like L. rhamnosus, L. reuteri, and S. boulardii showing the most consistent results. However, the impact on bacterial gastroenteritis is less clear due to limited research58.
Probiotics in Adults with Gastroenteritis
The effectiveness of probiotics in adults with gastroenteritis is less certain. While some studies suggest benefits for chronic gastrointestinal conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and antibiotic-associated diarrhea, meta-analyses have not found significant protective effects of probiotics for acute gastroenteritis in adults. The evidence remains inconclusive, and further research is needed to clarify their role in adult populations36910.
Safety and Strain-Specific Effects
Probiotics are generally considered safe for healthy infants, children, and adults. However, their effectiveness is highly strain-specific, and not all probiotics provide the same benefits. The choice of probiotic, dose, and duration of therapy should be tailored to the specific condition and patient population. Caution is advised in immunocompromised or hospitalized patients, as safety data in these groups are limited610.
Limitations and Recommendations
Despite widespread use, there is a lack of high-quality evidence supporting the routine use of probiotics for all cases of gastroenteritis. Recommendations are mostly weak or based on low-certainty evidence, and guidelines emphasize the importance of using specific strains with proven benefits. More research is needed to determine optimal strains, doses, and treatment durations, especially for bacterial gastroenteritis and in adult populations17810.
Conclusion
Probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii, may offer modest benefits in reducing the duration and severity of acute viral gastroenteritis in children, especially for rotavirus infections. The evidence for their use in adults and for bacterial gastroenteritis is less clear. Probiotic effectiveness is strain-specific, and not all products are beneficial. While generally safe, probiotics should be used with caution in vulnerable populations, and more research is needed to guide their use in gastroenteritis.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic