Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2025
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Lactobacillus acidophilus for Treating Acute Gastroenteritis in Children
Haixin Cheng1, Yi Ma2, Xiaohui Liu3
1Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100020, China.
Insights
Lactobacillus acidophilus may reduce diarrhea duration in children with acute gastroenteritis. Effective at doses over 10^9 CFU, it also decreased diarrhea frequency, particularly on day 3.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Acute gastroenteritis is a common childhood illness.
- The role of Lactobacillus acidophilus in managing pediatric gastroenteritis requires clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the efficacy of Lactobacillus acidophilus in treating acute gastroenteritis in children.
- To assess the impact of Lactobacillus acidophilus on diarrhea duration and frequency.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of multiple databases (Cochrane, PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, WanFang, CBM) and grey literature.
- Inclusion of 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 1765 pediatric patients.
- Contacting original authors for supplementary data.
Main Results:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus showed a trend towards reduced diarrhea duration compared to placebo, though not statistically significant for individual strains.
- A daily dose of ≥ 10^9 CFU of Lactobacillus acidophilus was effective.
- Significant reduction in diarrhea frequency was observed between days 2 and 5, notably on day 3.
- No geographical differences in efficacy were noted across Asian, European, or American countries.
Conclusions:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus, particularly at doses ≥ 10^9 CFU/day, demonstrates potential benefits in managing acute gastroenteritis in children.
- The probiotic reduced diarrhea duration and frequency, offering a viable supportive treatment option.
- Further high-quality research may be warranted to solidify these findings.
Abstract:
The efficacy of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus to manage acute gastroenteritis in children is still not established. We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and three Chinese literature databases (CNKI, WanFang, and CBM) from their inception to February 2021 for RCTs that compared the use of Lactobacillus acidophilus with no Lactobacillus acidophilus. The grey literature was searched through Google Scholar. Authors of the original papers were contacted for additional data. The study included a total of 15 RCTs involving 1765 patients. Compared with placebo or no treatment, Lactobacillus acidophilus was associated with a reduced duration of diarrhea (moderate quality of evidence), but the effect was not statistically significant when only the individual probiotic strain was provided. Lactobacillus acidophilus was effective when used at a daily dose ≥ 109 CFU. There was no difference in the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on diarrhea duration among Asian, European, or American countries. Lactobacillus acidophilus reduced the frequency of diarrhea on day 2 to day 5. However, it was statistically significant on day 3. When administered at a dosage of more than 109 CFU to children with acute gastroenteritis, moderate- to low-quality data showed that Lactobacillus acidophilus reduced the duration of diarrhea and conferred a benefit for frequency of diarrhea.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:18Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents
01:31Acid Suppressive Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Antacids
However, this neutralization reaction between...