Health Experts Recommend Probiotic Drinks for Patients Taking Antibiotics

LONDON, April 1/PRNewswire/ --

An expert report released today recommends that patients taking
antibiotics, especially those being treated in hospital, should take a daily
probiotic drink with clinically proven effectiveness. The report summarises a
meeting which took place at the Royal Society of Medicine, London and was
attended by a multidisciplinary panel of eight leading health experts.

The meeting discussed current data surrounding the health benefits of
dairy probiotic drinks, including latest studies focusing on the benefits of
probiotics on antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and Clostridium
difficile-associated diarrhoea, colds and flu, and even cancer. As well as
recommending probiotic drinks for people taking antibiotics in hospital, the
panel concluded that probiotic drinks may benefit patients taking antibiotics
in the community setting, and also called for additional research into this
area.

It is well established that antibiotics can disrupt the normal balance of
bacteria living in the intestine, making it easier for pathogens, or bad
bacteria, to grow. In light of this, diarrhoea is a common side effect of
antibiotics, especially when administered in hospitals where 5-30 per cent of
patients develop this symptom, the rate increasing with broader-spectrum
antibiotics.(1) The effect on the patient may include a longer hospital stay,
an increased risk of other infections and diseases and significant increases
to the costs of patient care.

In 20-30 per cent of cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, the cause
is the Clostridium difficile pathogen,(2) which can even lead to death,
especially in older persons. However, there is growing evidence to support
the positive influence of taking probiotic drinks, also known as good
bacteria, as they can help people taking antibiotics offset the bad bacteria
in their intestine, thereby reducing the risk and severity of diarrhoea.

Commenting on the report, Professor of Human Nutrition Research at the
University of Reading, Ian Rowland said: "There is a growing bank of evidence
to support the positive effects that probiotics have on antibiotic-associated
diarrhoea. By studying this evidence as well as various patient case studies,
the expert group were led to conclude that patients should take probiotics
during and after their hospital stay to reduce the risk of acquiring
antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, or if required, its severity and duration.
In addition to this, there may also be reason to believe that a daily
probiotic may also benefit those on antibiotics in the community, however
further research is still needed in this area."

When selecting a probiotic drink, people should choose one with a strain
that has proven clinical evidence as benefits are strain-specific. There is
also evidence to show that yoghurt or fermented milk based probiotics may
offer advantages over freeze dried capsules in that they may also provide
potentially beneficial fermentation products.

In addition to antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, the expert panel also
looked at other research and case studies where probiotics have been shown to
offer beneficial effects. This included the benefits probiotics can offer
older persons, especially those at risk of flu in winter, as well as evidence
that exists to support probiotic use in reducing the duration and severity of
diarrhoea in children. The panel agreed that both groups could benefit from
taking a daily probiotic drink.

Professor Ian Rowland concludes: "In summary, the experts agreed that
there are no harmful effects from taking probiotic drinks and evidence
suggests that they may offer health benefits for people taking them. Further
research is needed to examine the role of probiotic drinks in preventative
care and health maintenance as well as in the treatment of other conditions."

Notes to Editors

The multidisciplinary panel of health experts included the following
members:

- Ian Rowland, Chair, Professor of Human Nutrition Research, Reading

- Lisa Melton, Research Immunologist, London

- Juliet Gray, Registered public health nutritionist, Guildford

- Chris Bulpitt, Emeritus Professor of Geriatric and Cardiovascular
Medicine, Imperial College London

- Mary Hickson, Research Dietician, Imperial College Healthcare NHS
Trust, London

- Mike Smith, Specialist in Preventative Medicine, General Practitioner
and Freelance Journalist, London

- Julie Foxton, Specialist Community Public Health Nurse/Health Visitor,
Reading

- Satish Keshav, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Oxford

- Two members of the panel, Dr Mary Hickson and Prof Chris Bulpitt, were
authors of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published
recently in the British Medical Journal that showed, for people over 50,
drinking a probiotic containing the strain L. casei DN 114 001 (Danone
Actimel(R)) twice-daily significantly reduced the incidence of all diarrhoea
by 22 per cent and C. difficile-associated diarrhoea by 17 per cent.(3)

References

(1) McFarland LV, Beneda HW, Clarridge JE, et al. Implications of the
changing face of Clostridium difficile disease for health care practitioners.
Am J Infect Control 2007;35:235-53.

(2) McFarland, LV. Diarrhoea associated with antibiotic use: Evidence
supports the use of probiotics, but effectiveness depends on the strain. BMJ
2007;335:54-55.

(3) Hickson, M, et al. Use of probiotic Lactobacillus preparation to
prevent diarrhoea associated with antibiotics: randomised double blind
placebo controlled trial. BMJ 2007; 335:80-83.

Source: Danone

For further information or a copy of the full report please contact Priya Lakhani-Quiling at Chandler Chicco Agency on +44-20-7-632-1809 or email p.lakhani-quiling@cca-uk.com; or Lucy Hawkins at Chandler Chicco Agency on +44-20-7632-1981 or l.hawkins@cca-uk.com

2008-03-31 18:06:30 0324077 PRNEWSWIRE