Does Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG Reduce The Incidence Of Diarrhea?

Quick answer

There is no direct evidence from the provided studies that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG alone prevents diarrhea. However, one study showed that a combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG with lactoferrin reduced late-onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants, which may indirectly relate to gut health. Another study showed a probiotic (unspecified strain) reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children, but the strain was not identified as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.

🔬 What the research shows

Among the provided studies, none directly evaluated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG alone for prevention of diarrhea. The 2010 systematic review (PMID 20464748) found that oral lactoferrin combined with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG significantly reduced necrotizing enterocolitis and late-onset sepsis in preterm infants, suggesting a beneficial effect on neonatal gut health. A 2017 randomized controlled trial (PMID 28482385) demonstrated that a probiotic (strain not specified) significantly reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea in infants and young children, but the strain was not identified as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Other studies involving probiotics or Lactobacillus strains addressed different conditions such as urinary tract infections, vulvovaginal candidiasis, or hepatic encephalopathy, without specific focus on diarrhea prevention by Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Therefore, evidence for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG specifically preventing diarrhea is lacking in these studies.

Best studied probiotic strains

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG

Combined with oral lactoferrin, it significantly reduced late-onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants (PMID 20464748).

Effect observed in combination with lactoferrin, not as a single agent; no direct evidence for diarrhea prevention.

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👥 Who may benefit

Preterm infants at risk of late-onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis

✅ Safety

No adverse effects related to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG or lactoferrin were reported in the included studies. Probiotics were generally safe in infants and children.

⚠️ Limitations

No studies directly assessed Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG alone for diarrhea prevention. Evidence is indirect or from combination therapies. Strain-specific effects are important, and other probiotic strains were not evaluated for diarrhea prevention. The probiotic strain used in the antibiotic-associated diarrhea study was not specified. More targeted randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm efficacy of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG for diarrhea prevention.