Probiotics Reduce the Risk of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in Adults (18–64 Years) but Not the Elderly (>65 Years)
A Meta-Analysis
Sadegh Jafarnejad DVM
Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Search for more papers by this authorSakineh Shab-Bidar PhD
Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Search for more papers by this authorJohn R. Speakman DSc, PhD
Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
Search for more papers by this authorKarim Parastui MS
Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Search for more papers by this authorMilad Daneshi-Maskooni MS
Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Kurosh Djafarian PhD
Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Kurosh Djafarian, PhD, Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, No 44, Hojjat-dost Alley, Naderi St, Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran 1416-643931, Iran. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorSadegh Jafarnejad DVM
Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Search for more papers by this authorSakineh Shab-Bidar PhD
Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Search for more papers by this authorJohn R. Speakman DSc, PhD
Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
Search for more papers by this authorKarim Parastui MS
Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Search for more papers by this authorMilad Daneshi-Maskooni MS
Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Kurosh Djafarian PhD
Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Kurosh Djafarian, PhD, Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, No 44, Hojjat-dost Alley, Naderi St, Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran 1416-643931, Iran. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common problem in adults and elderly patients due to the widespread use of antibiotics in this population. Multiple previous systematic reviews have demonstrated an association between specific probiotics and decrease of AAD, especially in children. As there is no specific analysis concerning the elderly patients, we decided to focus on adults, especially elderly people. Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature regarding the use of probiotics in the treatment of AAD in adults (18–64 years old) and elderly subjects (≥65 years old). We identified 436 articles that met the search criteria. Thirty randomized controlled trials met the predefined inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Results: There was considerable heterogeneity among the trials (P < .001); thus, subgroup analyses were performed. The meta-analysis resulted in a pooled relative risk (RR) of AAD of 0.69 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.62–0.76) in a fixed effects model and 0.58 (95% CI: 0.48–0.71) in a random effects model, as compared with placebo. The positive association between intake of probiotic and reduced risk of AAD was observed in adults (RR, 0.47; 95% CI: 0.4–0.56). In contrast, in elderly patients, there was no positive effect (RR, 0.94; 95% CI: 0.76–1.15) of probiotic use and AAD. Conclusion: In summary, the results emerging from our meta-analysis suggested that adjunct probiotic administration is associated with a reduced risk of AAD in adults but not in elderly people.
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