The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7324 p672
6 November 2004

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

  Acrobat Reader

News summary

DTB cautious on probiotics

Optimum regimens for probiotics need to be clarified before these products can be advocated for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, says the latest issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.

DTB reviewers suggest that the use of probiotics for children with acute diarrhoea and for treating antibacterial-associated diarrhoea shows promise.

However, they warn that probiotics seem ineffective in managing patients with Crohn’s disease. There is also conflicting evidence as to whether probiotics prevent traveller’s diarrhoea, relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome or help to eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection (2004;42:85).