BACKGROUND: The efficacy of each probiotic should be evaluated separately. Previously, we have shown that Lactobacillus GG (LGG) is effective in treating acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children. AIM: To update our 2007 meta-analysis on the effectiveness of LGG in treating AGE in children. METHODS: The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched from August 2006 (end date of last search) to May 2013, with no language restrictions, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses. RESULTS: Fifteen RCTs (2963 participants) met the inclusion criteria in this updated meta-analysis. Combined data from 11 RCTs (n = 2444) showed that LGG significantly reduced the duration of diarrhoea compared with placebo or no treatment (mean difference, MD -1.05 days, 95% CI -1.7 to -0.4). LGG was more effective when used at a daily dose ≥10¹⁰ CFU (eight RCTs, n = 1488, MD -1.11 days, 95% CI -1.91 to -0.31) than when used at a daily dose <10¹⁰ CFU (three RCTs, n = 956, MD -0.9 day, 95% CI -2.5 to 0.69). LGG was effective in children treated in Europe (five RCTs, n = 744, MD -1.27 days, 95% CI -2.04 to -0.49); in the non-European setting, the difference between the LGG group and the control group was of a borderline statistical significance (six RCTs, n = 1700, MD -0.87, 95% CI -1.81 to 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Lactobacillus GG reduces the duration of diarrhoea. A subset of patients that is more likely to benefit includes subjects treated with a high daily dose of LGG (≥10¹⁰ CFU/day) who are either in-patients or out-patients from geographical Europe. Given the methodological limitations of many of the included trials, the evidence should be viewed with caution.
BACKGROUND: The efficacy of each probiotic should be evaluated separately. Previously, we have shown that Lactobacillus GG (LGG) is effective in treating acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children. AIM: To update our 2007 meta-analysis on the effectiveness of LGG in treating AGE in children. METHODS: The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched from August 2006 (end date of last search) to May 2013, with no language restrictions, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses. RESULTS: Fifteen RCTs (2963 participants) met the inclusion criteria in this updated meta-analysis. Combined data from 11 RCTs (n = 2444) showed that LGG significantly reduced the duration of diarrhoea compared with placebo or no treatment (mean difference, MD -1.05 days, 95% CI -1.7 to -0.4). LGG was more effective when used at a daily dose ≥10¹⁰ CFU (eight RCTs, n = 1488, MD -1.11 days, 95% CI -1.91 to -0.31) than when used at a daily dose <10¹⁰ CFU (three RCTs, n = 956, MD -0.9 day, 95% CI -2.5 to 0.69). LGG was effective in children treated in Europe (five RCTs, n = 744, MD -1.27 days, 95% CI -2.04 to -0.49); in the non-European setting, the difference between the LGG group and the control group was of a borderline statistical significance (six RCTs, n = 1700, MD -0.87, 95% CI -1.81 to 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Lactobacillus GG reduces the duration of diarrhoea. A subset of patients that is more likely to benefit includes subjects treated with a high daily dose of LGG (≥10¹⁰ CFU/day) who are either in-patients or out-patients from geographical Europe. Given the methodological limitations of many of the included trials, the evidence should be viewed with caution.
Authors: David Schnadower; Phillip I Tarr; T Charles Casper; Marc H Gorelick; J Michael Dean; Karen J O'Connell; Prashant Mahajan; Adam C Levine; Seema R Bhatt; Cindy G Roskind; Elizabeth C Powell; Alexander J Rogers; Cheryl Vance; Robert E Sapien; Cody S Olsen; Melissa Metheney; Viani P Dickey; Carla Hall-Moore; Stephen B Freedman Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2018-11-22 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: David Schnadower; Robert E Sapien; T Charles Casper; Cheryl Vance; Phillip I Tarr; Karen J O'Connell; Adam C Levine; Cindy G Roskind; Alexander J Rogers; Seema R Bhatt; Prashant Mahajan; Elizabeth C Powell; Cody S Olsen; Marc H Gorelick; J Michael Dean; Stephen B Freedman Journal: J Nutr Date: 2021-01-04 Impact factor: 4.798
Authors: Cynthia E Vargas García; Mariya Petrova; Ingmar J J Claes; Ilke De Boeck; Tine L A Verhoeven; Ellen Dilissen; Ingemar von Ossowski; Airi Palva; Dominique M Bullens; Jos Vanderleyden; Sarah Lebeer Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2015-01-09 Impact factor: 4.792
Authors: J S Bajaj; D M Heuman; P B Hylemon; A J Sanyal; P Puri; R K Sterling; V Luketic; R T Stravitz; M S Siddiqui; M Fuchs; L R Thacker; J B Wade; K Daita; S Sistrun; M B White; N A Noble; C Thorpe; G Kakiyama; W M Pandak; M Sikaroodi; P M Gillevet Journal: Aliment Pharmacol Ther Date: 2014-03-16 Impact factor: 8.171