A double blind randomized trial showing probiotics to be ineffective in acute diarrhea in Indonesian children

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of probiotics added to oral rehydration solution and zinc in the treatment of acute infectious diarrhea in Indonesian children.

Methods: A prospective randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial was performed to test the efficacy of a probiotic food supplement in 112 children in the Kenari subdistrict, central Jakarta, aged 6-36 mo with acute infectious diarrhea and moderate dehydration. The supplemented group was given standard therapy (oral rehydration solution and zinc) and the probiotic strains Lactobacillus (L.) rhamnosus R0011 1.9 × 10(9) colony forming units (cfu) and L. acidophilus R0052 0.1 × 10(9) cfu/d for 7 d, while the control group was given standard therapy and placebo.

Results: Median duration of diarrhea was 68.5 h (range 13-165) in the supplemented and 61.5 h (range 21-166) in the control group (P = 0.596). Median daily frequency of defecation until diarrhea stopped was 5.0 in the supplemented vs. 5.5 in the control group (P = 0.795).

Conclusions: This probiotic food supplement tested did not reduce the duration of acute infectious diarrhea as compared to oral rehydration and zinc.