Diarrhea Prevention
Better stool consistency and reduced loose bowel movements.
TL;DR
Saccharomyces boulardii and specific Lactobacillus strains cut the risk of antibiotic-associated and traveller's diarrhoea by roughly half. Zinc is the highest-impact intervention in paediatric infectious diarrhoea.
Why It Matters
Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea affects up to 30% of courses, and C. difficile infection is its most dangerous form. In children, diarrhoeal dehydration remains a leading global cause of death, where zinc and rehydration are lifesaving.
How to Measure
Biomarkers
Optimization Protocol
Start Saccharomyces boulardii 5-10 billion CFU daily on the first day of an antibiotic course and continue two weeks past it, taken a few hours apart from the antibiotic. For traveller's diarrhoea, begin two days before departure. In children, zinc 20 mg daily for 10-14 days during acute episodes.
Supporting Supplements
Zinc
Zinc is a WHO-recommended intervention for childhood diarrhoea and is one of the highest-impact nutritional treatments in global health.
Probiotics
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is well evidenced for preventing antibiotic-associated and paediatric infectious diarrhoea.
Saccharomyces Boulardii
S. boulardii roughly halves the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and is the best-studied single organism for this purpose.
Supporting Research
Frequently Asked Questions
Typical Timeframe
Immediate protective effect when started with the antibiotic
Research Summary
My Notes
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This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.