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A Randomized Trial of Yogurt for Prevention of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea

Digestive Diseases and Sciences volume 48, pages 2077–2082 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is the most common adverse effect of antibiotic therapy. Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of a dietary supplement of yogurt for prevention of AAD. Two hundred two hospitalized patients receiving oral or intravenous antibiotics were randomized to receive or not receive a dietary yogurt supplement, consisting of 227 grams of commercial yogurt, and followed for 8 days. Mean age of the study group was 70 years and 43% were male. Compliance and 8-day follow-up were 85% and 91%, respectively. Patients receiving yogurt reported less frequent diarrhea (12% vs 24%; P = 0.04), and significantly less total diarrheal days (23 vs 60). The cumulative proportions of patients without diarrhea were significantly different (P = 0.02) between patients receiving and not receiving yogurt. For conclusion, dietary supplementation with yogurt is a simple, effective, and safe treatment that decreases the incidence and duration of AAD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine and Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana

    Ripudaman S. Beniwal & Thomas F. Imperiale

  2. Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Vincent C. Arena

  3. Department of Medicine, UPMC-McKeesport Hospital, McKeesport, Pennsylvania, USA

    Leno Thomas, Rauf A. Chaudhry & Usman A. Ahmad

  4. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, UPMC-McKeesport Hospital, McKeesport, Pennsylvania, USA

    Sudhir Narla

Authors
  1. Ripudaman S. Beniwal
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  2. Vincent C. Arena
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  3. Leno Thomas
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  4. Sudhir Narla
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  5. Thomas F. Imperiale
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  6. Rauf A. Chaudhry
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  7. Usman A. Ahmad
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Correspondence to Ripudaman S. Beniwal.

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Beniwal, R.S., Arena, V.C., Thomas, L. et al. A Randomized Trial of Yogurt for Prevention of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea. Dig Dis Sci 48, 2077–2082 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026155328638

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026155328638

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