Saccharomyces boulardiiSpeeds Resolution of Rotavirus Diarrhea

Abstract

Research Article| February 01 2012 Saccharomyces boulardii Speeds Resolution of Rotavirus Diarrhea AAP Grand Rounds (2012) 27 (2): 17. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.27-2-17 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Saccharomyces boulardii Speeds Resolution of Rotavirus Diarrhea. AAP Grand Rounds February 2012; 27 (2): 17. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.27-2-17 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All PublicationsAll JournalsAAP Grand RoundsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Topics: diarrhea, diarrhea, acute, probiotics, rotavirus, saccharomyces boulardii Source: Correa NB, Penna FJ, Lima FM, et al. Treatment of acute diarrhea with Saccharomyces boulardii in infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2011; 53(5): 497– 501; doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0b013e31822b7ab0Google Scholar Researchers from Brazil conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of oral Saccharomyces boulardii in shortening diarrhea duration in infants. The researchers enrolled infants and toddlers aged 6 to 48 months admitted to two Brazilian hospitals with less than 72 hours of acute diarrhea. Patients were excluded for exclusive breastfeeding, antibiotics or diarrhea in the two weeks prior, hematochezia, severe malnutrition, inability to tolerate oral nutrition, and other underlying diseases. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a commercially available capsule containing 200 mg of S boulardii or a placebo capsule containing 200 mg of the inactive components of the probiotic; both patients and caregivers were blinded as to capsule contents. Patients and controls received one capsule by mouth twice per day for five days. The measured endpoint was either less than three stools per day or an improved stool consistency for at least 24 hours. The patients otherwise received only fluid and nutrition as therapy, and if there was no improvement within four days they were taken out of the study for further treatment. The authors also tested for rotavirus in a substantial number of patients and performed a subgroup analysis for the rotavirus-positive patients (rotavirus was detected in ~57% of patients). Researchers initially enrolled 186 children, of whom five withdrew and five were removed from the study due to need for antibiotics. Ninety probiotic patients and 86 controls completed the study period, and there were no adverse events requiring discontinuation in either group. There were no differences in age, sex, growth parameters, stool characteristics before enrollment, or frequency of rotavirus between groups. Among those whose treatment was initiated within 72 hours of onset, there was a statistically significant (P<.01) reduction in the percentage of patients persisting with diarrhea at three days in the probiotic group (32.2%) versus the placebo group (59.2%). In subgroup analysis, the protective effect reached statistical significance only in patients infected with rotavirus. The authors conclude that their data support the use of S boulardii as an adjunctive therapy in acute diarrhea in infants and toddlers. Drs Makkuda and LeLeiko have disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device. This study adds to a growing body of literature regarding the importance of the intestinal microbiota and the possible role of probiotics in gastrointestinal disease. Several prior studies looked at the use of probiotics in acute diarrhea, but differences in methodology and probiotics used have made the practical interpretation and application very difficult to discern.1,2 While the data presented here are interesting, there are several issues that make it hard to generalize and to apply these findings. The authors specifically chose... You do not currently have access to this content.