Probiotics as a potential therapeutic tool

In the past several years, the use of probiotics has grown significantly. The increasing number of works on these “beneficial” microorganisms have largely contributed to this trend. But not all microorganisms can be called “probiotics”: they need to be able to survive in the GI tract, resist to gastric acid and digestive enzymes, temporarily populate the intestines and they must have proven effective. The term can only be applied to microorganisms that resist degradation, are harmless to the human body, and are able to alleviate symptoms. They are generally marketed as dietary supplements or drugs, depending on their efficacy to alleviate symptoms and their degree of safety. They are composed of one or several strains or a mix of several species, and are available in many forms: capsules, powders for oral solution, orally dispersible powders, tablets...

Two leading species

A review of scientific literature to assess the use of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of pediatric gastrointestinal disorders showed that the benefits are specific to each strain and depend on the type of infection⁸. At this time, two microorganisms seem to efficiently act on gastroenteritis symptoms by reducing their duration: Saccharomyces boulardii yeast as well as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) bacteria. More generally, these probiotics seem to improve symptoms, and even more so if they are administered at an early stage of the infection, and if the latter is of viral origin. In case of antibiotic-induced diarrhea, S. boulardii and L. rhamnosus GG could also have a beneficial effect. However, to prevent relapses of Clostridium difficile infections and traveler’s diarrhea, it seems that only S. boulardii has an effect on symptoms.

Quicker recovery!

In case of rotavirus-induced gastroenteritis, these probiotics reduce the duration of the episode by a day or two². They lower the levels of molecules that improve the inflammatory process, by stimulating the immune response and promoting proliferation and/or migration of intestine cells responsible for the transport of nutrients, thus facilitating glucose–and consequently water–absorption. Beyond the prevention of diarrhea in children receiving antibiotics or hospitalized children, these strains (S. boulardii among others) prevent 85% of diarrhea episodes related to the consumption of contaminated food or water⁹ (traveler’s diarrhea). To be effective, these treatments must be taken a few days before departure and during the entire journey, and even after.