Role of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. in antibiotic-associated complaints from the gastrointestinal tract – preliminary data from a single-center
Medical review (Med. pregled), 2023, 59(1), 44-52.
Ts. Velikova1, V. Velkovski2, A. Mihova1, R. Nakov3, R. Vatcheva-Dobrevska4, V. Nakov3
1 Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Lozenets, Faculty of Medicine – Sofia University Sv. Kliment Ohridski
2 Medical Center PTB MED, Sofia
3 Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital “Tsaritsa Yoanna”, Medical University, Sofia
4 Department of Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital „Tsaritsa Yoanna“, Sofia
Abstract. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most frequent functional intestinal disease that affects around 11.5% of the population in Europe and developing countries. Most probably, IBS is associated with the gut microbiota, low-grade inflammation, impaired mucosal barrier function, visceral hypersensitivity, gut motility, and alterations in the gut-brain axis. Similarly, some patients develop IBS-like symptoms after antibiotic treatment. The objectives of our trial were to evaluate gut microbiota changes, associated with antibiotic and probiotic use, on health and wellbeing of subjects. Methods: Twenty patients with post-infective IBS after antibiotic treatment were included in the trial and patients were immunologically tested for fecal calprotectin and Clostridium difficile, dysbacteriosis and Candida and overall health condition of the patients was evaluated with adapted, tested and validated questionnaires for anxiety, symptoms burden, somatization and quality of life. Patients were given one capsule OPTI 6 for twenty one days. Results: Vast majority of patients had at least one gastrointestinal tract symptom after antibiotic treatment of infections. The most significant results were significant reduction in the number and severity of gastrointestinal complaints and psychological well-being concerning anxiety, quality of life, etc. The questionnaires answers on day 21 demonstrated significant improvement in several life scopes and trend for improvement in the other life spheres. Conclusion: We found positive effect of Lactoflor OPTI6 for the most common symptoms and general health condition of the patients with IBS-like symptoms, in accordance with other authors in the field.
Key words: probiotic, Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., antibiotic-associated condition, infection, immune system
Address for correspondence: Tsvetelina Velikova, MD, PhD, Clinical Immunology, UMHAT Lozenets, Medical Faculty – Sofia University Sv. Kliment Ohridskil, 1 Kozyak Str., Bg – 1407 Sofia