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Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Intake Modifies Preschool Children's Intestinal Microbiota, Alleviates

Katri Korpela1, Anne Salonen1, Lauri J Virta2

  • 1Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Immunobiology Research Programme, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Plos One
|April 26, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Long-term Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (L. rhamnosus GG) supplementation influences children's gut microbiota composition. This probiotic may prevent some antibiotic-associated microbiota changes and reduce gastrointestinal complaints.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Clinical Nutrition

Background:

  • Antibiotic use significantly disrupts the developing intestinal microbiota in children, leading to gastrointestinal issues.
  • Probiotics are often recommended to mitigate antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal symptoms, but their impact on children's microbiota remains unclear.
  • The long-term effects of probiotic consumption on the pediatric gut microbiome are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of long-term Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (L. rhamnosus GG) intake on children's antibiotic use and associated gastrointestinal complaints.
  • To analyze the effect of L. rhamnosus GG on the composition of the intestinal microbiota in preschool children.
  • To determine if L. rhamnosus GG can prevent antibiotic-associated changes in the gut microbiota and reduce gastrointestinal symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial involving 231 children aged 2-7 years.
  • Long-term supplementation with L. rhamnosus GG or placebo.
  • Analysis of intestinal microbiota composition in a subset of 88 children.

Main Results:

  • Long-term L. rhamnosus GG supplementation altered gut microbiota composition, increasing Prevotella, Lactococcus, and Ruminococcus, while decreasing Escherichia.
  • The probiotic partially prevented microbiota changes associated with penicillin but not macrolide antibiotic use.
  • L. rhamnosus GG reduced the frequency of gastrointestinal complaints following macrolide antibiotic courses and potentially prevented infections for up to 3 years.

Conclusions:

  • Long-term L. rhamnosus GG supplementation impacts the developing intestinal microbiota in children.
  • This probiotic may offer benefits in managing antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal disturbances and potentially reducing infection incidence.
  • Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the mechanisms and long-term implications of probiotic use in pediatric populations.
Abstract

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