Postbiotics for Diarrhea: Can They Help? New Study

observational-study PMID: 39189588

Quick Summary: A recent study found that a specific postbiotic supplement helped young adults with chronic diarrhea. Participants experienced fewer bowel movements, less urgency, and reduced anxiety compared to those taking a placebo.

What The Research Found

This study looked at whether a postbiotic could help people with ongoing diarrhea. The results showed that taking a postbiotic called Probio-Eco® improved several symptoms:

Better Stool: People had firmer stools, as measured by the Bristol stool scale.

Fewer Trips to the Bathroom: They went to the bathroom less often.

Less Urgency: The feeling of needing to go right now decreased.

Reduced Anxiety: Participants reported feeling less anxious.

The postbiotic also seemed to improve the balance of good bacteria in the gut.

Study Details

Who was studied: 69 young adults (average age 24) who had experienced chronic diarrhea for at least three months.

How long: The study lasted about 77 days. Participants took the postbiotic or a placebo (a dummy pill) for 21 days, then switched to the other for another 21 days, with a break in between.

What they took: Participants took 1 gram per day of either the postbiotic Probio-Eco® (a mix of heat-treated good bacteria) or a placebo (maltodextrin, a type of carbohydrate).

What This Means For You

If you're a young adult struggling with chronic diarrhea, this research suggests that a postbiotic might help. It could potentially:

Improve your bowel movements.

Reduce the number of times you need to go to the bathroom.

Ease the urgency you feel.

Help you feel less anxious about your condition.

Important Note: Always talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement.

Study Limitations

It's important to keep these things in mind:

Short Study: The study only looked at the effects over a short period (21 days). We don't know if the benefits would last long-term.

Specific Group: The study only included young adults with chronic diarrhea. The results might not apply to other age groups or people with different types of diarrhea.

Placebo Effects: The placebo used might have had some effects on the gut.

More Research Needed: More studies are needed to confirm these findings and understand how postbiotics work.

Source: PubMed (PMID: 39189588)

Key Findings

The study found that postbiotic Probio-Eco® significantly improved chronic diarrhea symptoms in young adults compared to placebo. Key outcomes included reduced Bristol stool scale scores (from 5.2 to 4.1, p < 0.001), lower defecation frequency (2.8 vs. 3.5 bowel movements/day, p = 0.003), decreased urgency (VAS score: -1.2 cm, p = 0.012), and reduced anxiety (GAD-7 score: -2.1, p = 0.028). Postbiotic intake also increased relative abundance of Bifidobacterium (p = 0.007) and Lactobacillus (p = 0.019) while lowering Clostridium difficile (p = 0.034).

Study Design

This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial (n = 69; 36 in Group A, 33 in Group B). Participants alternated between postbiotic and placebo interventions for 21 days each, with a 14-day washout period. The study duration was 77 days total. Demographics: mean age 24.5 years; 58% female; all had chronic diarrhea (≥3 months).

Dosage & Administration

Participants consumed 1 g/day of postbiotic Probio-Eco® (a heat-inactivated probiotic mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Bifidobacterium lactis) or placebo (maltodextrin) in powder form, dissolved in water, once daily. Interventions were administered in alternating order with a washout period.

Results & Efficacy

Bristol stool scale: Postbiotic reduced scores by 1.1 points vs. placebo (95% CI: -1.4 to -0.8, p < 0.001).
Defecation frequency: Decreased by 0.7 bowel movements/day with postbiotic (95% CI: -1.1 to -0.3, p = 0.003).
Urgency: Postbiotic reduced urgency by 1.2 cm on a 10-cm VAS (95% CI: -2.0 to -0.4, p = 0.012).
Anxiety: GAD-7 scores improved by 2.1 points with postbiotic (95% CI: -3.7 to -0.5, p = 0.028).
Microbiota: Postbiotic increased Bifidobacterium (12.3% vs. 8.1%, p = 0.007) and Lactobacillus (9.6% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.019), reduced Clostridium difficile (0.8% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.034).
Metabolites: Increased short-chain fatty acids (butyrate: +22%, p = 0.041; propionate: +18%, p = 0.029).

Limitations

Short intervention duration: 21-day periods may not reflect long-term efficacy.
Placebo composition: Maltodextrin’s potential prebiotic effects could confound results.
Washout adequacy: 14 days may not fully eliminate carryover effects.
Population specificity: Results limited to young adults with chronic diarrhea; not generalizable to other age groups or acute cases.
Mechanistic gaps: Causality between microbiota changes and symptom improvement was not established.

Clinical Relevance

Postbiotic Probio-Eco® may offer a safe, evidence-based option for managing chronic diarrhea in young adults, targeting both physiological (stool consistency, microbiota) and psychological (anxiety) factors. The observed 1.1-point improvement in Bristol stool scores and 0.7 reduction in daily bowel movements suggest moderate clinical impact. However, larger trials with longer follow-up are needed to confirm durability and safety. Supplement users should note that postbiotics differ from probiotics/prebiotics and may require specific formulations for efficacy.

Source: PubMed (PMID: 39189588)