Adding Probiotics in Diarrhea Treatment: Cheaper but as Effective

Filed in archive Diarrhea , Kid's Health , Studies , Treatment on September 30, 2007

In developing countries, too many infants die from diarrhea caused by rotavirus - while in developed countries the infection management of diarrhea costs to as much as 1B$/year.

Now, the addition of probiotic bacteria in the treatment of diarrhea has been found to be as effective, though cheaper.

Such were the findings of a collaborative study by a team from the Karolinska Institute, University of Linkoping in Sweden and from the Nestle Research Center in Switzerland, recently published at BMC Microbiology:

In a collaborative study by researchers investigating rotaviral diarrhoea, 'good bacteria' (probiotics) were combined with antibodies known to cure rotaviral-caused diarrhoea, resulting in a reduced incidence of gastro-intestinal infection in animal model.

The researchers found that the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG probiotic strain, in combination with a lower dose than usual of antibodies, provides protection against infection that is almost as effective as a higher dose of the antibodies alone, thus making a saving of up to 90% on antibodies to treat diarrhoea.

The said antibody chosen, hyperimmune bovine colostrums (HBC), is known to be effective in clinical settings as a cure of rotaviral diarrhoea, but is an expensive treatment. However, with the addition of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG probiotic strain, the treatment regimen can be potentially made a lot cheaper but as effective.

Find more details from Science Daily, BMC Microbiology Abstract.

[Photo Credit: neilslade.co.uk]