Comparison of traditional and probiotic yogurt in relation to their impact on pediatric acute diarrhea patients

Abstract

Yogurt itself is known to contain probiotic bacteria but the beneficial bacteria present in it does not survive during their passage from the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, supplementing yogurt with a probiotic species can make it a functionally beneficial dairy product. The aim of this study was to develop traditional and probiotic yogurt, to assess its nutritional composition, and to evaluate its effectiveness in terms of treating diarrhea. Lyofast-LA3 strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum BB04 were used to supplement yogurt prepared with the standard culture. The traditional yogurt was prepared in the conventional way. After that, proximate composition and clinical intervention were evaluated. The preparation stages represent a gradual improvement in the sensorial properties of both the yogurts. While the proximate analysis of traditional and probiotic yogurt indicated no significant difference in their nutritional composition. The intervention of probiotic and traditional yogurt, resulted in a significant difference between the two groups. After 72 h of administration of probiotic yogurt, only 8% of participants passed watery stool in the experimental group while in the control group, 48%, that is, almost half, of the subjects still passed watery stools. While the frequency remains the same in both groups, about 88% of children passed stool 1–3 times per day at the end of intervention. Novelty impact statement Acute diarrhea is very common in Pakistan, and it could become fatal if not treated properly on time. Therefore, children suffering from acute diarrhea require immediate management of body constituents like minerals, sugars, and fluids. The use of an oral rehydration solution does not affect either the severity or duration of diarrhea immediately. Therefore, administration of probiotics to cure acute diarrhea in a shorter period of time is more favorable not only in terms of symptoms but also in the number of stools passed per day. Yogurt is known to reduce the symptoms of acute diarrhea and have a natural microflora. However, data on the role of traditional yogurt in routine clinical practice compared to that of probiotics are scarce. If we could establish the role of yogurt in reducing the frequency of diarrhea, it will be beneficial for the patients, as yogurt is easily available, is cost effective, and easy to consume orally.