Randomized control trial of live Lactobacillus acidophilus plus Bifidobacterium infantis in treatment of infantile acute watery diarrhea

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of live Lactobacillus acidophilus plus Bifidobacterium infantis in the treatment of acute watery diarrhea.

Design: Open, randomized control trial.

Setting: King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.

Material and method: Seventy-one infants (aged 1-24 months) with acute watery diarrhea that presented at Department of Pediatrics, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok were enrolled after parental signed informed consent. They were randomized into 2 groups. The Study group (n = 35) received live Lactobacillus plus Bifidobacterium (3 x 10(9) CFU) bid and ORS and the Control group (n = 36) received ORS only. All infants received lactose free milk. Case record forms were completed daily for 5 days by the parents.

Results: All 71 infants completed the present study. There was no difference of the patients'characteristics and baseline clinical symptoms between the study group and the control group. Live Lactobacillus plus Bifidobacterium shortened the diarrhea duration (1.6 +/- 0.7 days vs 2.9 +/- 1.7 days, p < 0.01) compared to controls. However the stool frequency and duration of hospitalization were not significantly different (p > 0.05, study group vs control group).

Conclusion: Live Lactobacillus acidophilus plus Bifidobacterium infantis may be an effective treatment for acute watery diarrhea in infants. The 2-day course treatment can significantly shorten the duration of diarrhea.