title: Efficacy of high-dose Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in controlling acute watery diarrhea in Indian children: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effective dose of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) as probiotic in acute watery diarrhea (AWD) in Indian children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled, blinded trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients of AWD admitted over 1 year were included in the study. They were randomized into 3 groups to receive either only oral rehydration solution (ORS) (group A/control), ORS+LGG powder containing 10(10) colony forming units (CFU) (group B), or ORS+LGG powder containing 10(12) CFU (group C) twice daily for a minimum period of 7 days or until diarrhea stopped along with correction of dehydration. None of them received any other drug such as antibiotic or antidiarrheal medication. The duration and frequency of diarrhea and vomiting were studied. Data were analyzed by SPSS-10 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study comprised of 559 patients, group A/controls (n=185), group B (n=188), and group C (n=186). All the groups were similar with respect to age, number of breastfed infants, presentation with dehydration, degree of protein energy malnutrition, and rotavirus infection. The frequency and duration of diarrhea, requirement for intravenous therapy, and hospital stay were significantly lower in both the intervention groups compared with the controls. There was no significant difference between the 2 intervention groups. No complication was observed from the doses of LGG used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the doses of LGG (10(10) and 10(12) CFU) were equally effective to decrease the frequency and duration of diarrhea and reduction in hospital stay in patients of AWD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Sushrutnagar, Darjeeling, India. drsriparnabasu@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Sriparna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Dilip Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Sutapa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.forename: Mridula
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Pranab Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chandra
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D001639:Bicarbonates; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005947:Glucose; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; C044142:World Health Organization oral rehydration solution; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D005947:Glucose