Assessment of Efficacy of Regular and Probiotic Yogurt in Patients with Acute Watery Diarrhea: A Comparative Study

ABSTRACT

Background:Diarrhea is the second most common infectious disease in children, and causes a significant number of hospitalizations, morbidity and mortality. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host while enhancing the properties of intestinal flora. Nowadays, probiotics use is increasingly widespread; however, indication of their use has been evidenced since ancient times. Aim of the study To compare the efficacy of regular yogurt and probiotic yogurt in patients with acute watery diarrhea. Materials & methods:The study was conducted in the department of general medicine of the Government D.B. General Hospital, Churu, Rajasthan, India.. For the study, we included patients admitting to general medicine ward with acute watery diarrhea. Acute diarrhea was defined as the presence of 3 or more liquid or loose stools per day lasting for less than 14 days. A total of 120 patients were included. The patients were randomly grouped into Group 1 and Group 2. Group 1 patients were advised to consume regular yogurt (250 mg twice a day) and Group 2 patients were advised to consume probiotic yogurt (250 mg twice a day). Results A total of 120 patients were included in the study. Group 1 had 32 males and 28 females. Group 2 had 37 males and 23 females. Mean age of the patients in Group 1 was 32.33 years whereas Group 2 patients were 36.21 years. The duration for significant reduction of stools in group 1 was 2.12 days and in group 2 was 1.32 days. Duration for normalization of stools in group 1 was 4.12 days and in group 2 was 3.18 days. Conclusion: The overall duration of diarrhea in group 2 was shorter as compared to group 1. Normalization of stool composition and frequency was more rapid in the group 2 patients. These results should be confirmed with a large scale placebo controlled clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of probiotic yogurt.