Study: DuPont HOWARU Probiotics Reduce Antibiotic Side Effects

13 Dec 2013 --- A study to investigate the ability of a unique probiotic formulation to reduce potential gastrointestinal side effects of antibiotic treatment has found significant benefits from dietary supplementation with HOWARU Restore, part of the DuPont Danisco probiotic range from DuPont Nutrition & Health.

The study, which was conducted by DuPont Nutrition & Health in collaboration with Changhai Hospital in Shanghai, was published in Vaccine Journal and is titled, “Clinical Dose Response Study Examines Use of Probiotics to Reduce Symptoms of Antibiotic Use” (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.11.053).

The triple-blind, dose-response study concludes that the four-strain probiotic combination in HOWARU Restore appears to lower the risk and duration of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). A decrease in gastrointestinal symptoms – fever, bloating and abdominal pain – also was observed compared to the placebo group.

The 503 adult subjects who participated in the study were recruited at Changhai Hospital in Shanghai, China, and divided into three groups: a placebo group and two groups that received either a low dose or high dose of HOWARU Restore (guaranteed to a minimum dose of 2.5×109 and 10×109 colony forming units (CFU), respectively, at end of shelf-life). Both probiotic treatments and the placebo were administered daily in the form of capsules during and for seven days following antibiotic treatment.

While the low-dose group clearly experienced fewer antibiotic side effects than the placebo group, the incidence of AAD in the high-dose group was, at 12.5 percent, close to half that of the placebo group (24.6 percent).

The high-dose group similarly had a considerably lower rate of fever and gastrointestinal discomfort. In addition, the study indicates a tendency toward reduced Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) – Clostridium difficile being the pathogen responsible for 10-25 percent of AAD episodes and almost all episodes of antibiotic-induced pseudo-membranous colitis.

“Few probiotics, if any, have been shown to reduce the duration and severity of AAD,” said Arthur Ouwehand, Ph.D., research manager, DuPont Nutrition & Health. “This study confirms the positive dose-dependent effect of HOWARU Restore when consumed during and immediately after antibiotic treatment.”

Apart from being one of the largest studies with probiotics and AAD, it is to date the only dose-response study of the effect of probiotics on AAD in adults.

“The present study is one of the rare dose response studies in probiotic research. Here, the higher dose was found to be superior,” Ouwehand added.

DuPont Danisco is the brand for a range of products that help provide enhanced bioprotection, an improved nutritional profile, and better taste and texture with greater cost efficiency and lower environmental impact, meeting the needs of manufacturers of food and beverages, dietary supplements and pet food. Through the work of the global network of food scientists and technologists in DuPont, the Danisco range is supported by a uniquely broad spectrum of know-how across applications and processing.