Einstein researchers find convincing evidence that probiotics are effective

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Public release date: 17-Dec-2008

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-12/aeco-erf121708.php

Contact: Heller

mheller@...

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Einstein researchers find convincing evidence that probiotics are effective

Findings may help patients better tolerate antibiotics

December 17, 2008 ─ (BRONX, NY) ─ Up to one in five people on

antibiotics stop taking their full course of antibiotic therapy due to

diarrhea. Physicians could help patients avoid this problem by

prescribing probiotics, according to a study by researchers at Albert

Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University published in American

Family Physician.

Antibiotics target " bad " bacteria but may also kill the " good " bacteria

in the large intestine, leading to diarrhea. Diarrhea can also result

from bacterial and viral infections. Probiotics─cultures of " good "

microorganisms similar to those normally found in the gut ─ have been

promoted as restoring the microbial balance disrupted by antibiotics and

infections. Probiotic bacterial strains are added to certain yogurts and

brands of miso and other fermented foods, and are also available as

powders and pills sold in health food stores.

The Einstein scientists reviewed the medical literature and found seven,

high-quality studies in which probiotics were administered to people.

The researchers concluded that the studies support the use of probiotics

for avoiding diarrhea resulting from antibiotic use or from

gastrointestinal viral or bacterial infections. In addition, the

probiotics used in these studies were found to rarely cause adverse

effects, even in children.

" With the level of evidence that probiotics work and the large safety

margins for them, we see no good reason not to prescribe probiotics when

prescribing antibiotics, " says Dr. Kligler, a co-author of the

study and associate professor of clinical family and social medicine at

Einstein. " The only drawback is that probiotics are not covered by

health insurance. " On average, a one-month supply of probiotics costs

between $8 and $22.

Dr. Kligler notes that the effects of probiotics doses are short-lived,

so they should be taken throughout a course of antibiotic therapy.

Probiotics will not diminish the effectiveness of antibiotics, he adds.

Because probiotics are considered dietary supplements, they are not

regulated as stringently as conventional foods and drugs. Products vary

widely in bacterial dose and in quality. The Einstein paper specifies

several commercial probiotic preparations of sufficient strength to

offer health benefits. In general, probiotic doses of more than 5

billion colony-forming units per day for children and more than 10

billion colony-forming units per day for adults were associated with the

best outcomes.

Dr. Kligler believes that physicians should be aware of specific brands

so they can recommend only those known to be of quality. He suggests

visiting www.consumerlab.com and www.usprobiotics.org to find complete

listings of beneficial probiotic preparations.

" In our residency program, we've worked hard to train our physicians to

consider probiotics as an option, " says Dr. Kligler. " Now they are

pretty good at regularly prescribing probiotics when they put a patient

on antibiotics. But the average doctor is not doing this, and patients

often know more about probiotics than their physicians do. "

The paper, " Probiotics, " was published in the November 1st issue of

American Family Physician http://www.aafp.org/afp/20081101/1073.html

Dr. Kligler's co-author was Dr. s Cohrssen, director of the Beth

Israel Medical Center Residency Program in Urban Family Practice.

Disclosure: Neither Kligler nor s Cohrssen has any

financial ties to consumerlab.com, usprobiotics.org, or the

manufacturers of probiotics.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University is one of the

nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical

investigation. It is the home to some 2,000 faculty members, 750 M.D.

students, 350 Ph.D. students (including 125 in combined M.D./Ph.D.

programs) and 380 postdoctoral investigators. Last year, Einstein

received more than $130 million in support from the NIH. This includes

the funding of major research centers at Einstein in diabetes, cancer,

liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is

concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research,

neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate

ethnic and racial health disparities. Through its extensive affiliation

network involving five hospital centers in the Bronx, Manhattan and Long

Island – which includes Montefiore Medical Center, Einstein's officially

designated University Hospital – the College runs one of the largest

post-graduate medical training program in the United States, offering

approximately 150 residency programs to more than 2,500 physicians in

training. For more information, please visit www.aecom.yu.edu.

--

ne Holden, MS, RD

" Ask the Parkinson Dietitian " http://www.parkinson.org/

" Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease "

" Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy "

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