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Lactobacillus plantarum 299v Enhances the Concentrations of Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Patients with Recurrent Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea

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Abstract

Our objective was to document how intake of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v affects the concentrations of fecal organic acids during and after metronidazole treatment in 19 patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. Fecal samples were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. After intake of metronidazole a significant decrease in total short-chain fatty acids was seen in the placebo group (from 77.1 to 45.5 μmol/g; P=0.028) but not in the Lactobacillus group (79.8–60.4 μmol/g). In addition, a statistically significant difference between treatment groups was noted for butyrate (5.6–1.2 μmol/g in the placebo group vs. 7.6–5.6 μmol/g in the Lactobacillus group; P=0.047). At the end of the study and after cessation of placebo or Lactobacillus, the total short-chain fatty acids rose to the same levels as before antibiotic treatment in the placebo group. Both treatment groups showed a significant decrease in concentrations of succinate at the end of the study in comparison to the time when metronidazole intake was stopped (6.3–1.5 μmol/g in the placebo group versus 9.3–0.9 μmol/g in the Lactobacillus group; P=0.028). The present study of fecal samples from a clinical trial is the first to demonstrate that administration of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v reduces the negative effects of an antibiotic on colonic fermentation. The intake of this probiotic strain may thereby provide an additional benefit for patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the county of Skåne. Probi AB Ltd. (Sweden) provided active preparations of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v and placebo. Anna Berggren is employed at Probi AB. The other authors have no financial interest in the company.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Infectious Diseases Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 205 02, Malmö, Sweden

    Marlene Wullt & Inga Odenholt

  2. Laboratory of Food Hygiene, Department of Food Technology, Lund University, Malmo, Sweden

    Marie-Louise Johansson Hagslätt

  3. Probi AB, Lund, Sweden

    Anna Berggren

Authors
  1. Marlene Wullt
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  2. Marie-Louise Johansson Hagslätt
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  3. Inga Odenholt
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  4. Anna Berggren
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Correspondence to Marlene Wullt.

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Wullt, M., Johansson Hagslätt, ML., Odenholt, I. et al. Lactobacillus plantarum 299v Enhances the Concentrations of Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Patients with Recurrent Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea. Dig Dis Sci 52, 2082–2086 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9123-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9123-3

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