People who are on antibiotics may benefit from taking probiotics, also known as "good bacteria" at the same time in order to keep diarrhea symptoms at bay, a new study said Friday.
According to a new review from The Cochrane Library in England, researchers say adding probiotic supplements into the mix could prevent diarrhea - a common side-effect of many antibiotics. The researchers analyzed data from 23 studies that included 4,213 adults and children taking antibiotics.
"For older patients that are in hospital or in nursing homes who are exposed to antibiotics, we've shown that certain probiotics regimens at certain dosages result in large reductions in the incidence of C. difficile-associated diarrhea," said Bradley Johnston, the study's lead author from The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute in Toronto, Canada.
Antibiotics are used to treat all sorts of different infections, ranging from the common flu to an infection. However, antibiotics typically upset the equilibrium of intestinal bacteria that naturally live in the gut to promote optimal digestion. As a result, diarrhea ensues as it's related to the rise of the harmful gut bacteria Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), which is responsible for nearly 14,000 U.S. deaths annually, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The infection's symptoms typically include stomach cramps and diarrhea. In severe cases, the colon becomes inflamed.
The study found that those taking probiotics didn't change the number of people who went on to develop C. difficile , about 13 percent in each group. However, it did cause a noteworthy drop in those who had diarrhea.
"Every strain (of probiotics) has traits and mechanisms of actions. I think it would be wrong to conclude from the systematic review that you could buy any probiotics off the shelf and take it," said Dr. Shira Doron, who was not involved with the new review but studies probiotics, according to Reuters Health.
