Probiotics: A Traveler's Best Friend Against Diarrhea?

Probiotics are healthy bacteria that can be found in certain foods or taken as supplements. They are often used to ease digestive issues, and there is some evidence to suggest that they can help prevent traveller's diarrhoea. Traveller's diarrhoea is a common illness, affecting 20-50% of people travelling from industrialised countries to high-risk developing countries. It is caused by consuming contaminated food or water, and can cause loose stools and abdominal cramps. While there is some evidence that probiotics can help prevent traveller's diarrhoea, not all studies agree, and more research is needed before doctors can confidently recommend probiotics for this purpose.

Probiotics may help prevent travellers' diarrhoea

Probiotics May Help Prevent Travellers Diarrhoea

Travellers' diarrhoea is a common illness, affecting 20-50% of people travelling from industrialised countries to high-risk developing countries. It is usually caused by consuming contaminated food or water. The most common cause is infection with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), but other pathogens can also be responsible.

Probiotics are living microorganisms, typically bacteria or yeast, that are taken orally to maintain a healthy gut microbiome and prevent harmful microorganisms from colonising the gut. They are often consumed as a supplement or in certain foods such as yoghurt.

There is some evidence that taking probiotics can help prevent travellers' diarrhoea. A 2007 meta-analysis reported significant efficacy of probiotics in preventing travellers' diarrhoea, and a more recent study in 2018 supported these findings. However, the 2017 guideline for the prevention of travellers' diarrhoea by the International Society of Travel Medicine stated that there is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of commercially available probiotics to prevent or treat travellers' diarrhoea.

Some specific strains of probiotics that may be effective in preventing travellers' diarrhoea include Lactobacillus rhamnosus, LGG®, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Saccharomyces boulardii. It is important to note that not all probiotics are the same, and some may be more effective than others in preventing travellers' diarrhoea.

While probiotics may be a helpful addition to your travel health routine, it is still important to practise good food safety and personal hygiene when travelling. This includes drinking only boiled, bottled, or carbonated beverages, avoiding raw or undercooked food, and washing hands frequently with soap and water.

If you are considering taking probiotics for travellers' diarrhoea, it is recommended to speak to your doctor or healthcare provider for personalised advice and to choose a probiotic strain that has been clinically studied for this specific purpose.

Probiotics may help treat travellers' diarrhoea

Travellers' diarrhoea is a common illness, affecting 20-50% of people travelling from industrialised countries to high-risk developing ones. It is usually caused by consuming contaminated food or water. The most common cause is the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) bacterium, although other pathogens can be responsible.

Probiotics are living microorganisms, typically bacteria or yeast, that are taken orally to maintain a healthy gut microbiome and prevent harmful microorganisms from colonising the gut. They are often used to treat some types of diarrhoea and there is some evidence that they may help prevent and treat travellers' diarrhoea.

Probiotics for Prevention

The International Society of Travel Medicine has stated that there is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of commercially available probiotics to prevent travellers' diarrhoea. However, some studies have shown that certain probiotics may be effective in preventing this condition. For example, a 2018 meta-analysis found that probiotics had a statistically significant efficacy in preventing travellers' diarrhoea.

A specific probiotic blend of Bifidobacterium, BB-12®, Lactobacillus acidophilus, LA-5®, Streptococcus thermophilus, STY-31™ and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, LBY-27™ may be beneficial for travellers' health. A clinical study found that travellers who took this blend for two days prior to travel and during their two-week visit to a high-risk country had a 39% reduction in the incidence of travellers' diarrhoea compared to those who took a placebo.

The LGG® probiotic strain may also help reduce the risk of travellers' diarrhoea. A clinical study of healthy adults travelling to high-risk areas found that 3.9% of those who took the LGG® strain developed travellers' diarrhoea, compared to 7.4% of those who took a placebo.

Probiotics for Treatment

Some research has shown that probiotics may help treat travellers' diarrhoea. The bacteria strains most likely to help are Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii. A mix of a few different probiotics may also be effective.

Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 and L. rhamnosus GG are two strains that have been shown to reduce the severity and duration of travellers' diarrhoea. However, these strains are hard to find in a consumer-friendly form and more research is needed before doctors can confidently recommend any type of probiotic to treat or prevent travellers' diarrhoea.

Recommendations

If you are considering taking probiotics to prevent or treat travellers' diarrhoea, it is best to speak to your doctor first. They can advise you on the appropriate strain and dosage, as well as provide guidance on other preventative measures and treatments.

It is also important to be vigilant about food safety practices when travelling, such as avoiding raw or undercooked food and drinking only bottled water. Hand washing with soap and water before eating and after using the bathroom is also crucial.

Probiotics may be more effective for travellers' diarrhoea than antibiotics

Travellers' diarrhoea is the most common travel-related illness, affecting 30-70% of travellers during a 2-week period. It is usually caused by consuming contaminated food or water. The risk of contracting travellers' diarrhoea is highest in the Middle East, Africa, Mexico, Central and South America, and Asia (excluding Japan and South Korea).

Antibiotics are not recommended for preventing travellers' diarrhoea due to the risk of antibiotic resistance and the potential harm to travellers' microbiota, which can increase the risk of infection with resistant bacteria. Probiotics, on the other hand, are a possible solution to preventing and treating travellers' diarrhoea. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that live in the intestines and aid digestion. While there is no conclusive proof that probiotics work for travellers' diarrhoea, some studies suggest that they can help prevent it.

The LGG® probiotic strain has been shown to reduce the risk of travellers' diarrhoea. In a clinical study, 2 billion CFU/day of the LGG® strain was administered to healthy adults travelling to high-risk regions 2 days prior to departure and during the trip. Only 3.9% of the intervention group experienced travellers' diarrhoea, compared to 7.4% of the placebo group. Another study of 94 travellers to a high-risk country found that consuming a specific blend of probiotics (BB-12®, LA-5®, STY-31™ and LBY-27™) reduced the incidence of travellers' diarrhoea by 39%.

In addition to preventing travellers' diarrhoea, probiotics may also help manage acute infectious diarrhoea and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Probiotics can be found in certain foods like yogurt and in supplement form. It is important to choose a probiotic strain that has been clinically studied and is suitable for the relevant therapy area.

Probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Saccharomyces boulardii may be more effective

Probiotics are live microorganisms that positively impact the body. They are available in many different species and strengths. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved probiotics as a treatment for any health condition, studies suggest that they may help with certain types of diarrhea.

A clinical study investigated the impact of consuming the LGG® strain at a potency of 2 billion CFU/day on the incidence of travellers' diarrhea. The study was conducted on healthy adults travelling to regions with a high risk of travellers' diarrhea, including Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. The intervention started two days before departure and ended on the last day of the trip. The results showed that just 3.9% of the intervention group experienced travellers' diarrhea, compared to 7.4% of the placebo group.

Saccharomyces boulardii is a type of friendly yeast that functions as a probiotic to fight off disease-causing organisms within the digestive tract. It is often marketed as a dietary supplement and has been prescribed for the past 30 years for the prophylaxis and treatment of diarrheal diseases caused by bacteria. It has been shown to be effective in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, especially when taken within two days of the first antibiotic dose.

Saccharomyces boulardii has also been found to be effective in treating travellers' diarrhea. A meta-analysis of 12 RCTs of various probiotics, including Saccharomyces boulardii, for the prevention of travellers' diarrhea found a significant reduction in the risk of travellers' diarrhea when probiotics were used. The relative significant reduction in travellers' diarrhea in the Saccharomyces boulardii group compared to controls ranged from 5% to 11%.

While probiotics may be beneficial in preventing and treating travellers' diarrhea, it is important to note that they are not approved treatments. The effects of probiotics can vary depending on the specific situation and the individual's unique microbiome. It is always recommended to consult a doctor or healthcare professional before taking any new supplements or treatments.

Probiotics may be a good preventative measure when travelling abroad

Probiotics are a possible way to prevent travellers' diarrhea, a common illness affecting 20-50% of people travelling from industrialised countries to high-risk developing regions. Travellers' diarrhea is usually caused by consuming contaminated food or water, which introduces pathogens to the digestive system.

Probiotics are living microorganisms, typically bacteria or yeast, that are consumed orally to maintain a healthy gut microbiome and prevent harmful microorganisms from colonising the gut. While there is no hard proof that probiotics work to prevent travellers' diarrhea, some studies have shown that they may help. The strongest evidence points to the probiotic strains Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Saccharomyces boulardii.

A specific blend of the strains BB-12®, LA-5®, STY-31™ and LBY-27™ has been shown to reduce the incidence of travellers' diarrhea by 39% in one study. Another study found that the LGG® strain reduced the incidence of travellers' diarrhea from 7.4% in the placebo group to 3.9% in the intervention group.

However, it is important to note that not all probiotics can ease diarrhea, and the effectiveness of probiotics varies depending on the destination of the traveller. Probiotics are also not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so it can be difficult to know exactly what is in over-the-counter probiotic supplements.

In addition to taking probiotics, there are other ways to prevent travellers' diarrhea. This includes being vigilant about food safety practices, such as avoiding raw fruits and vegetables unless they have been peeled or washed with clean water, and only drinking bottled water. It is also important to wash hands with soap and water before eating and after using the bathroom.

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