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Age-stratified Evaluation Of Saccharomyces boulardii In A Pediatric Randomized Controlled Trial And Adult
Yuanhai Lou1, Qi Wang2, Xiaojing Xing3
1Department of Gastroenterology No.2, Harbin Fourth Hospital.
Insights
Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) effectively reduced diarrhea duration and hospital stays in both children and adults with infectious enteritis. This probiotic yeast demonstrated safety and efficacy as an adjunct therapy across different age groups.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Infectious enteritis is a major global health concern, especially in young children.
- Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) is a probiotic yeast known for its anti-diarrheal properties.
- Limited direct comparisons exist regarding S. boulardii's efficacy across different age demographics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of S. boulardii in pediatric and adult patients diagnosed with infectious enteritis.
- To assess the impact of S. boulardii on diarrhea duration, stool frequency, hospitalization, and recurrence rates.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 186 children with acute diarrhea.
- A retrospective observational study including 270 adult patients with infectious enteritis.
- Both groups received standard rehydration therapy, with intervention groups receiving S. boulardii as an adjunct.
Main Results:
- In pediatric patients, S. boulardii significantly reduced diarrhea duration, hospital stay, and stool frequency compared to placebo (p < 0.05).
- In adult patients, S. boulardii was associated with shorter diarrhea duration, reduced hospital stay, higher symptom resolution, and lower recurrence rates (p < 0.01).
- Adverse events were mild and comparable across all study groups.
Conclusions:
- Saccharomyces boulardii is a safe and effective adjunct therapy for infectious enteritis in both pediatric and adult populations.
- The probiotic demonstrated improvements in key clinical outcomes, including reduced diarrhea duration and hospitalization.
- While separate analyses showed benefits in each cohort, direct statistical comparisons between pediatric and adult groups were not performed due to differing study designs.
Abstract:
Infectious enteritis remains a significant global health burden, particularly among children under five years of age. Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii), a probiotic yeast, has been widely studied for its role in reducing diarrhea; however, direct comparisons of its effects across age groups remain limited. This study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of S. boulardii in pediatric and adult patients with infectious enteritis. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 186 children with acute diarrhea, while a retrospective observational study included 270 adult patients. All participants received standard rehydration therapy; the intervention groups additionally received S. boulardii. The primary outcome was diarrhea duration. Secondary outcomes included stool frequency, length of hospital stay, recurrence rate, and adverse events. In pediatric patients, S. boulardii significantly reduced diarrhea duration (2.1 vs. 3.9 days in rotavirus-positive cases), hospital stay (3.2 vs. 4.8 days), and stool frequency (4.2 vs. 6.7 stools/day) compared to placebo (all p < 0.05). In adult patients, S. boulardii was associated with shorter diarrhea duration (2.7 vs. 5.4 days), reduced hospital stay (3.6 vs. 5.2 days), higher symptom resolution rates (77.8% vs. 15.8%), and lower recurrence (8.1% vs. 21.7%; all p < 0.01). Adverse events were mild and comparable between groups. S. boulardii appears to be a safe and effective adjunct therapy for infectious enteritis, with age-related differences in clinical outcomes. S. boulardii appears to be a safe and effective adjunct therapy for infectious enteritis in both pediatric and adult populations. Within each cohort, improvements were observed in clinical outcomes, including diarrhea duration, hospitalization, and recurrence. Observed differences between pediatric and adult cohorts are descriptive and reflect separate analyses conducted under different study designs; therefore, no direct statistical comparisons between age groups were performed.
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