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Effect of a synbiotic on infantile acute gastroenteritis

Z Gundogdu1

  • 1Department of Child Health and Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Umuttepe Campus, 41380 Kocaeli, Turkey. z.gundo@gmail.com

Beneficial Microbes
|July 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Synbiotics, a combination of probiotics and prebiotics, significantly reduced diarrhea duration in children with acute gastroenteritis. This synbiotic therapy, including Bifidobacterium lactis and chicory inulin, shortened illness by about one day compared to oral rehydration alone.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Acute gastroenteritis remains a prevalent global health concern, particularly in children.
  • Diarrhea associated with acute gastroenteritis necessitates effective therapeutic interventions.
  • Synbiotics offer a potential strategy to mitigate the impact of gastroenteritis-related diarrhea.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of a specific synbiotic formulation in shortening the duration of acute diarrhea in pediatric patients.
  • To compare the therapeutic effect of synbiotics combined with oral rehydration solution (ORS) against ORS alone.

Main Methods:

  • A clinical study involving children aged three months to 14 years diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis.
  • Participants were divided into two groups: a synbiotic group receiving Bifidobacterium lactis and chicory inulin with ORS, and a control group receiving ORS only.
  • Treatment duration for the synbiotic group was five days, with administration twice daily.

Main Results:

  • The synbiotic group experienced a reduction in acute diarrhea duration by approximately one day compared to the control group.
  • The synbiotic formulation contained Bifidobacterium lactis (≥5×10⁶ cfu) and chicory inulin (900 mg).
  • The study demonstrated a statistically significant benefit of synbiotic intervention.

Conclusions:

  • Synbiotic therapy, combining Bifidobacterium lactis and chicory inulin with ORS, is effective in reducing acute diarrhea duration in children.
  • This intervention presents a valuable addition to the management of acute gastroenteritis in pediatric populations.
  • Further research may explore optimal synbiotic combinations and dosages for pediatric gastrointestinal disorders.

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