Probiotics for Diarrhea in Adults, Children & Infants

The usefulness of certain probiotics for diarrhea has been confirmed in clinical studies. Diarrhea is caused by many different conditions.

Probiotics have been effectively used to treat diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics from the bacterium Clostridium Difficile, the bacteria Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in Traveler’s Diarrhea (TD) and the virus infection Rotavirus.

Probiotics have also proved useful in treating diarrhea in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Probiotics are the treatment of choice when combined with rehydration therapy for severe diarrhea. This combination treatment reduces hospital stay time and starts to provide relief within the first 24 hours.

Clinical studies done on treating diarrhea have shown probiotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Saccharomyces boulardii are the most beneficial.

Probiotic supplements are safe for children and infants to use and present few side effects to the general population.

Probiotics

Digestive Supplement

Gut Health

Digestion

Immune Function

How It Works:

• Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
• Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
• Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism

Dosage:

Between 1 - 10 Billion CFUs per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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Probiotics for Diarrhea

Probiotics are especially effective for cases of rotavirus, the most common cause of diarrhea in infants and children according to the Center for Disease Control.

There are eight strains of this virus. Rotavirus A is the cause of 90% of the cases in humans.

The Rotavirus infection is not as common in adults because immunity builds up against it after having a Rotavirus infection.

Using an oral probiotic supplement that contains a specific strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, can reduce the duration of rhotaviral diarrhea in both infants and young children.

The Lactobacillus GG proprietary strain found in Culturelle probiotic supplements is observed to shorten the course of diarrhea by 1-3 days in children.

In another study, administering a daily dose of 10 billion CFUs of Lactobacillus reuteri resulted in a reduction of diarrhea symptoms for babies between 6 to 36 months.

Combinations of the Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri strains have been found equally effective when administering a minimum of 10 billion live cultures within 48 hours of the onset of diarrhea.

Which Probiotic to take for Diarrhea?

Diarrhea caused from taking antibiotics is commonly caused by the Clostridium Difficile bacterium. This occurs in to 10 to 30 percent of people following a course of antibiotics. This can cause severe diarrhea and inflammation in the colon (colitis).

Probiotic formulas with Saccharomyces boulardii (S. Boulardii) and Lactobacillus have been shown to be effective in reducing the prevalence of diarrhea and loose stools.

Taking probiotics before and with antibiotics can lower the risk of diarrhea in both children and adults. It is best to wait two hours after taking the antibiotic to prevent the probiotic from making the antibiotic less effective.

A clinical study showed Saccharomyces boulardii can help diarrhea caused by this infection and help to prevent future infections. This is especially beneficial as repeat infections by Clostridium Difficile are difficult to control.

Traveller’s Diarrhea (TD) is caused from bad food, water and pathogens encountered while travelling to a new environment. Symptoms can last for up to a month or more. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the most common cause of this form of diarrhea.

Probiotic supplements with S. boulardii, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacteria bifidum were shown most effective for this type of diarrhea.

Probiotics for IBD and IBS

Another condition that causes diarrhea is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii helps with this condition.

Probiotics have been shown to help treat Ulcerative colitis and may help Crohn’s disease

Probiotics are also used in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This syndrome is characterized by cycles of IBS-A (alternating digestive symptoms), IBS-M (mixed symptoms), constipation (IBS-C) and diarrhea (IBS-D). Saccharomyces boulardii is the probiotic recommended for IBS-D.

Saccharomyces boulardii is a yeast microorganism probiotic that has been shown in many clinical trials to help people suffering with diarrhea. For IBS-C the probiotic Bifidobacteria and a fiber combination is recommended.

Formulas for IBS-C often contain the prebiotic Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) which is high in fiber and provides food for the probiotic.

For symptoms of bloating, a common symptom of IBS, probiotic formulas with Lactococcus lactis Rosell-1058 are recommended. Bloating can also occur with over eating, food intolerance, gas, during pre-menstrual tension, or during menstruation.

Poor digestion can cause the food to remain in the stomach at high temperatures which creates gas and causes the gut wall to stretch out uncomfortably.

There are many ways to take probiotics for diarrhea relief. Some methods require refrigeration such as milk and dairy products. Other probiotics use room temperature stable cultures that don’t need to be refrigerated.

It is important to only use probiotic products from reliable and trusted sources to prevent contamination. Also, improperly stored products won’t have the required live culture amounts needed to be beneficial.

Risk of Side Effects

People who are allergic to milk products should avoid probiotic supplements that have been grown on milk-based mediums. There are non-dairy sources of probiotics available, commonly marketed as vegan probiotic supplements.

People with immune deficiency conditions, pancreatitis or have a post surgical open wound should avoid probiotic supplements as they may cause illness.

People with short bowel disease and those using a catheter should also avoid taking probiotics, unless directed to do so by your physician.

Using probiotics for diarrhea is a recognised and useful treatment. Matching the type of diarrhea with the appropriate probiotic combination formula is essential to achieving the best results for diarrhea management.

Speak to your doctor to learn more about the effects and side effects of probiotic bacteria supplements.

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