A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Lactobacillus acidophilus for Treating Acute Gastroenteritis in Children

Study answer

What this study found

Overall, Lactobacillus acidophilus was associated with a shorter duration of diarrhea in children with acute gastroenteritis. The pooled effect for diarrhea duration was MD -0.69 days, 95% CI -1.04 to -0.33 across 15 RCTs, but heterogeneity was substantial (I2 = 94%). Benefit appeared greater when Lactobacillus acidophilus was combined with other probiotic strains (MD -0.91 days, 95% CI -1.23 to -0.59) and at daily doses of at least 10^9 CFU/day; low-dose regimens <10^9 CFU were not beneficial. Diarrhea frequency was less consistently improved, with a day 3 reduction of MD -0.61 days, 95% CI…

Study & population

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials including 1,765 children with acute gastroenteritis.

Intervention

Lactobacillus acidophilus was given as an oral probiotic added to standard rehydration therapy, compared with placebo or no probiotic treatment.

Key limitation

Evidence quality was moderate to low, and between-study heterogeneity was very high.

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Original abstract