My opinion has been that probiotics are generally over-hyped and are likely ineffective for many conditions in which they are commonly used (see related blog posts below).

A recent study (D Schnadower et al.N Engl J Med 2018; 379:2002-2014) provided more data to support this skeptical view when probiotics are utilized for acute gastroenteritis.  Another study in the same issue will be highlighted tomorrow and reaches a similar conclusion.

Link to Abstract: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG versus Placebo for Acute Gastroenteritis in Children

METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial involving children 3 months to 4 years of age with acute gastroenteritis who presented to one of 10 U.S. pediatric emergency departments. Participants received a 5-day course of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG … twice daily or matching placebo…

RESULTS Among the 971 participants, 943 (97.1%) completed the trial…There were no significant differences between the L. rhamnosus GG group and the placebo group in the duration of diarrhea (median, 49.7 hours in the L. rhamnosus GG group and 50.9 hours in the placebo group; P=0.26), duration of vomiting (median, 0 hours in both groups; P=0.17), or day-care absenteeism (median, 2 days in both groups; P=0.67) or in the rate of household transmission (10.6% and 14.1% in the two groups, respectively; P=0.16).

CONCLUSIONS Among preschool children with acute gastroenteritis, those who received a 5-day course of L. rhamnosus GG did not have better outcomes than those who received placebo

My take: While some probiotic strains have been shown to be helpful in some conditions (eg. antibiotic-associated diarrhea), this study indicates that probiotics are likely ineffective in altering the course of acute gastroenteritis.

Related blog posts:

• The Truth about Probiotics: Constipation Version
• Are Probiotics Effective in Changing the Microbiome?
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Associated with Increased Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Observational Study
• How helpful are probiotics?
• Balanced summary of probiotics & Microbiome effects on brain
• Probiotics for Crohn’s Disease –No Beneficial Effects Noted | gutsandgrowth
• Probiotics For Fatty Liver Disease | gutsandgrowth
• “Low quality of evidence; strong recommendation” for Probiotics in Gastroenteritis
• Probiotics for Colic
• Do Probiotics Really Help Crying Infants? | gutsandgrowth
• Pushback on Probiotics
• One More Day Syndrome & Necrotizing Enterocolitis | gutsandgrowth
• Probiotics, Atopy, and Asthma | gutsandgrowth