Skip to main content
About the Institute
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • Russian
  • Turkish

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Gastroenteritis and other types of infectious diarrhea: when your microbiota is struggling
  3. Probiotics as a potential therapeutic tool
  • Learn all about microbiota
    • The gut microbiota
    • The ENT microbiota
    • The pulmonary microbiota
    • The urinary microbiota
    • The skin microbiota
    • The vaginal microbiota
  • Microbiota and related conditions
    • Digestive disorders
    • Women disorders
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Skin disorders
    • Pediatric disorders
    • Psychiatric disorders
    • Neurological disorders
    • Respiratory disorders
    • Urinary disorders
  • Act on your microbiota
    • Probiotics
    • Prebiotics
    • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
    • Diet
  • Publications
    • Thematics folders
    • News
    • Press room
    About the Institute

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Healthcare professionals section

Find here your dedicated section
Biocodex logo
The power of your gut
My microbiota as a woman
Our marvelous microbiota

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Gastroenteritis and other types of infectious diarrhea: when your microbiota is struggling
  3. Probiotics as a potential therapeutic tool
The power of your gut

Probiotics as a potential therapeutic tool

Gastroenteritis
The gut microbiota Infectious gastroenteritis Probiotics

Although they are not part of the standard treatment for gastroenteritis, probiotics7 could play a role in the treatment of patients with acute diarrhea, provided the strain(s) used had been proven effective to alleviate symptoms.

The power of your gut
My microbiota as a woman
Our marvelous microbiota
  • Learn all about microbiota
    • The gut microbiota
    • The ENT microbiota
    • The pulmonary microbiota
    • The urinary microbiota
    • The skin microbiota
    • The vaginal microbiota
  • Microbiota and related conditions
    • Digestive disorders
    • Women disorders
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Skin disorders
    • Pediatric disorders
    • Psychiatric disorders
    • Neurological disorders
    • Respiratory disorders
    • Urinary disorders
  • Act on your microbiota
    • Probiotics
    • Prebiotics
    • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
    • Diet
  • Publications
    • Thematics folders
    • News
    • Press room
    About the Institute

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Healthcare professionals section

Find here your dedicated section
Biocodex logo

Sources

This article is based on scientific information

Sharing is caring

Your friends might be interested in this topic. Why not share it?

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail

Sections

About this article

Created 23 September 2019
Updated 30 December 2021

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.

Image
Gastroenteritis-Infography-article-2
Sources

2 Beaugerie L, Sokol H. Acute infectious diarrhea in adults: epidemiology and management. Presse Med. 2013 Jan

7 According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), probiotics are “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host.

8 Hojsak I. Probiotics in Children: What Is the Evidence? Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr. 2017 Sep

9 Mc Farland LV. Are probiotics and prebiotics effective in the prevention of travellers’ diarrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2018 Sep 29. 

19 Steffen R et al. Traveler’s diarrhea: a clinical review. JAMA. 2015 Jan 6

Old sources

 

 

Tags
Gastroenteritis

en_view en_sources

    See also

    Actu GP : Microbiote et cellules immunitaires : sentinelles de l’intestin Microbiota and immune cells as intestinal sentinels
    Actu GP : Mieux manger peut-il renforcer l’immunité ? Can healthy eating habits strengthen immunity?
    Focus
    Gastroenteritis and other types of infectious diarrhea: when your microbiota is struggling
    • How to act on the microbiota to combat diarrhea
      • Diet: a key factor
      • Probiotics as a potential therapeutic tool
    • Who is responsible?
      • Rotavirus and norovirus are to blame
      • What about the gut microbiota?
    • Other troublemakers
      • When bacteria and parasites attack the gut microbiota
      • Diarrhea and use of antibiotics: case study
      • Expert Interview : Dr Julie Lemale
    Created 23 September 2019
    Updated 30 December 2021

    About this article

    To know more about this topic.

    Main topic

    Gastroenteritis

    Related microbiotas

    The gut microbiota

    Related topics

    Infectious gastroenteritis Probiotics
    Diet: a key factor
    Rotavirus and norovirus are to blame
    Focus

    Gastroenteritis and other types of infectious diarrhea: when your microbiota is struggling

    How to act on the microbiota to combat diarrhea

    Diet: a key factor Probiotics as a potential therapeutic tool

    Who is responsible?

    Rotavirus and norovirus are to blame What about the gut microbiota?

    Other troublemakers

    When bacteria and parasites attack the gut microbiota Diarrhea and use of antibiotics: case study Expert Interview : Dr Julie Lemale
    The power of your gut
    La discrimination difficile à digérer
    20.03.2023

    How discrimination turns our stomach

    Read the article

    Pediatric disorders

    Find out more
    Actu GP : Schizophrénie et microbiote : un lien confirmé ?
    28.05.2019

    Schizophrenia and microbiota: has the link been confirmed?

    Read the article

    How our gut constantly talks to our brain

    Our gut, often called our “second brain”, owns 200 million neurons (enteric nervous system), hosts several ...

    Find out more
    Periods and endometriosis: what is the role of the microbiota?
    24.01.2023

    Periods and endometriosis: what is the role of the microbiota?

    Read the article
    28.02.2023

    Why running could bring a smile to depressed teens... and their gut microbiota

    Read the article
    16.05.2022

    Gut microbiota: still many things to be discovered

    Read the article
    Patients stories - logo
    21.11.2022

    Patients stories: living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

    Read the article
    My health, my microbiota
    Follow our Facebook page
    Our marvelous microbiota
    Get to understand our microbiota and the role they play in our body
    Find your dedicated section
    Healthcare professionals
    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • Thematics folders
      • News
      • Press room
      About the Institute

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • YouTube

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo
    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota
    • English
    • Français
    • Español
    • Russian
    • Turkish

    Browse the site

    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • Thematics folders
      • News
      • Press room
      About the Institute

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • YouTube

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo

    Discover

    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Redirection

    You are about to be redirected and leave our website

    • Be redirected
    • Stay on the Biocodex Microbiota Institute's website

    Stay with us !

    Join the microbiota community and receive "The Essentials" once a month to stay up to date with the latest news on the microbiota.

    * Mandatory Fields

    BMI 20-35

    Explore

    La discrimination difficile à digérer
    20.03.2023

    How discrimination turns our stomach

    Read the article
    14.03.2023

    Does microbiota play a role in infertility?

    Read the article
    How to keep a healthy microbiota?
    02.03.2023

    How to keep a healthy microbiota?

    Read the article

    Stay updated

    Join the Microbiota Community and receive once a month “The Essential” to stay up to date on the latest news about microbiota.

    * Mandatory Fields

    BMI 20-35

    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • Thematics folders
      • News
      • Press room
      About the Institute

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • YouTube

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo

    Discover

    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    © 2022 Biocodex. All rights reserved.

    • Cookies Policy
    • Data protection policy
    • GTU
    • Sitemap
    • Cookies settings
    Biocodex logo