Researchers at the Imperial College at Hammersmith Hospital in the U.K. determined that probiotic drinks can help reduce diarrhea among older people who are taking antibiotics, which can reduce the length and cost of their hospital stay.

Gastrointestinal problems are quite common when taking antibiotics, as they do not discriminate between the bacteria they kill--both good and bad bacteria are eradicated.

Half of the 135 patients in this study were given a 100 g (97 ml) drink containing Lactobacillus casei, L bulgaricus, and Streptococcus thermophilus twice a day during a course of antibiotics and for one week after the course finished. Only 12 percent developed antibiotic-associated diarrhea, as compared to 34 percent in the placebo group.

One thing I've found through my years of clinical practice, is that no single probiotic is good for everyone. However, I have found that more people respond favorably to Lactobacillus sporogenes than any other probiotic, so when in doubt, that's a great place to start.

I recommend probiotics to virtually every single one of my patients--I believe they're that important. They serve so many vital functions in the body, because they: produce B vitamins and vitamin K; promote mineral absorption; support protein and carbohydrate digestion, and they aid in metabolism and the breakdown of toxins, just to mention a few.

So, although these researchers promote probiotics just for older people undergoing antibiotic treatment, in reality, everyone can benefit tremendously from adding probiotics to their daily regimen for total health.

The British Medical Journal June 29, 2007 (Full Length Report)

Science Daily July 4, 2007