Research

Mixed

Administration of specific probiotic strains (e.g., Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces) improves gastrointestinal health outcomes, including reducing the duration of acute diarrhea, preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

If you are looking to use probiotics for digestive issues like diarrhea or IBS, do not just buy any probiotic. Look for specific strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG or Saccharomyces boulardii, which have evidence for diarrhea. Take them 1-10 billion CFUs, 1-2 times daily. If you are taking antibiotics, wait two hours after the antibiotic before taking the probiotic. Results vary by individual, so track your symptoms.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Saccharomyces boulardii and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG are the most frequently used strains of probiotics and are associated with successful results in diarrheal diseases... S. boulardii and L. rhamnosus GG have been shown to reduce the risk of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea (AAD)... consumption of probiotics substantially reduced gastrointestinal transit, improved stool consistency, and increased stool frequency
Nicoleta-Maricica Maftei et al. · Microorganisms · 2024

Why this rating

The paper is a review citing multiple meta-analyses and RCTs, but notes that evidence quality is 'generally poor' for some conditions and efficacy for IBS remission is 'unclear'.

Source

The Potential Impact of Probiotics on Human Health: An Update on Their Health-Promoting Properties

Nicoleta-Maricica Maftei et al. · Microorganisms · 2024

DOI 10.3390/microorganisms12020234

narrative_reviewCited 323×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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