Doubt cast on role of probiotics
10th August 2013
Contrary to popular belief, commonly used probiotics do not prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in older adults, a large clinical trial has shown.
The UK study found no difference in rates of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, including that caused by Clostridium difficile, between hospital inpatients given probiotics and those given placebo.
The results are at odds with recent meta-analyses, including a 2012 study that concluded taking