Probiotics for Occasional Diarrhea and Food Poisoning

Trillions of bacteria live inside us, predominantly in our gut, and these populations are essential to good health. Some of these bacteria work synergistically with body systems to keep their host healthy; these 'good' bacteria are known as ‘probiotics’. But other micro-organisms are less desirable; these are known as ‘pathogens’, and can cause upset stomachs, either in the form of gastroenteritis, or on an ongoing basis such as in IBS-type symptoms.

You can find out more about probiotics on the Probiotics Learning Lab.

In this article, we'll look at the different factors which can upset the delicate balance in our gut and cause an upset stomach, and consider how probiotics might be able to help.

• Probiotics for occasional diarrhea and upset stomach
• Causes of occasional diarrhea and upset stomach
• Probiotics for food poisoning
• Probiotics for gastroenteritis and stomach flu
• Probiotics for traveler's diarrhea
• Probiotics and IBS-D 
• Best probiotic strains for occasional diarrhea

Probiotics for occasional diarrhea and upset stomach

Whether you're experiencing stomach discomfort at home, due to food poisoning or a viral infection, or in a hostel in Mumbai, due to traveller’s diarrhea, research indicates that specific strains of probiotics may help to ease diarrhea symptoms. As well as helping to manage the symptoms of these stomach upsets, probiotics can also offer a level of protection against developing them. There has even been confirmation from the NHS¹ that certain probiotics can be helpful for occasional diarrhea and upset stomach, following a review which looked at a number of clinical studies on probiotics and diarrhea, and concluded that they "reduced the duration of diarrhea by about 25 hours compared with no treatment".

Causes of occasional diarrhea and upset stomach

Whilst the symptoms are often the same - typically abdominal pain, cramps and diarrhea - there are a number of different causes for an ‘upset stomach’:

• Food poisoning - caused by consuming food contaminated with infectious organisms, usually pathogenic bacteria, but sometimes viruses or parasites. Food poisoning is a major cause of bacterial gastroenteritis, most commonly from pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella and Norovirus. Food poisoning and gastroenteritis tend to resolve themselves after a couple of days, so treatment typically involves managing the symptoms of stomach cramps and diarrhea, and preventing dehydration and loss of mineral electrolytes.
• Stomach bug /stomach flu/gastric flu - also known as viral gastroenteritis. Stomach flu is a viral infection that is highly contagious and passed from person to person. Common viruses that cause stomach ‘flu’ include: Adenovirus, Rotavirus and Norovirus. The symptoms are very similar to those of food poisoning, however they can typically take a little longer to disappear.
• Traveler’s diarrhea - Normally, our gut is exposed to a certain type of bacteria in everyday life and our immune system is accustomed to this. However, when we visit different countries, our bodies become exposed to very different types of bacteria that we may not have encountered previously, usually by consuming the food and drinking water. Consequently, our body goes into a 'defence mode' which causes stomach upsets, sickness, diarrhea, and general discomfort. Trying the local cuisine in countries such as Thailand, India, Egypt or Cambodia may also lead to diarrhoea or sickness, often referred to as "travellers' diarrhea". Even drinking the water in some countries can cause illness.
• IBS-D -This is a subset of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and stands for IBS- diarrhea. IBS can be triggered by a gut infection, diet or lifestyle, though sometimes there’s no obvious cause. The symptoms of loose stools and stomach cramps are similar to some of the symptoms of infectious stomach upsets. Symptoms can be present on an ongoing basis, or sufferers may experience periods of relief, interspersed with flare-ups. 

Let’s now look at ways to help support the body through these kinds of gastrointestinal issues, and consider the potential role for probiotics, as we answer the question ‘Are probiotics good for upset stomach?’

Probiotics for food poisoning

People often ask whether probiotics help with food poisoning and, in short, the answer is yes. Specific strains of good bacteria have shown to help alleviate the symptoms of many gastric illnesses including diarrhea and reduce symptom duration by up to 24 hours.

One particular strain, clinically trialled² to reduce the effects of stomach upsets, is Saccharomyces boulardii. It is unique from other bacterial strains, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, because it is actually a probiotic yeast. Originally found in lychee fruit, this probiotic strain is known for its transient qualities, meaning that it doesn't colonise in the intestines. Interestingly, it is thought to have a sticky outer membrane which it uses to adhere itself to harmful bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella. This process is thought to help remove any pathogens from the gut. Saccharomyces boulardii is the only probiotic that functions in this way, making it a valuable therapeutic tool to tackle most stomach upsets. It has even been found helpful in limiting Clostridium difficile³ infection in the gut. C. difficile is a notoriously difficult pathogen to eradicate, as it is becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics.

Although food poisoning typically resolves in a couple of days, it can cause lasting damage to the natural balance in the gut microbiome, and sometimes results in ongoing digestive disorders. You can read more about post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome on the Probiotics Learning Lab.

You can find out more about the research using Saccharomyces boulardii on the Probiotics Database.

Probiotics for viral gastroenteritis/stomach flu

In the previous section we learnt that Saccharomyces boulardii can be used to cleanse the pathogens involved in food poisoning from the gut. However, this amazing probiotic strain has even proven to be effective against certain viruses including rotavirus⁴, one of the viruses often implicated in stomach flu. So it seems that whether symptoms were bought on by eating contaminated food, or simply through contact with a person suffering with a stomach virus, Saccharomyces boulardii is the best probiotic for upset stomach.

Another probiotic strain which could be of note here is Lactobacillus paracasei CASEI 431^®. This strain is known for its immune-modulatory properties: one 2012 study⁵ showed that after just 6 weeks of intervention with this probiotic strain, study participants saw an average 37% increase in IgG production versus the placebo group, and a significant increase in sIgA over placebo. The antibody IgG protects against both viral and bacterial infections in the host.

Lactobacillus paracasei CASEI 431^® has not been researched specifically for gastric flu but has been researched and shown to be help with diarrhea in children⁶, and is well-documented for immune support so may be another option to consider for those who often suffer from viral upset stomachs.

Lactobacillus paracasei CASEI 431^® is found in Optibac Probiotics Immune Support.

Probiotics for traveler’s diarrhea

Whether you're going away to a familiar destination, returning home to see family or backpacking to distant lands to explore uncharted territory, holidays are invariably a memorable experience. However, sometimes these new experiences can also produce some nasty and uncomfortable stomach-related side effects.

Saccharomyces boulardii has also been extensively clinically researched⁷ for occasional traveler’s diarrhea and found to support gut health in those that travel abroad to exotic locations. S. boulardii, as mentioned above, works differently from other probiotics specifically because of its unique transient qualities. This means that it can pass through the system without binding to the gut wall. It works by adhering itself to harmful bacteria and gently removing those unwelcome pathogens from the system.

When travelling abroad, it is a good idea to also take other types of probiotics alongside Saccharomyces boulardii to give an extra level of protection to the gut, and to battle bad bacteria and other nasties in two ways. Live cultures, like L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus possess qualities that enable them to line the interior of the gut wall, creating a physical barrier and fortifying the gut's natural defences. They also create a gut environment which discourages the growth of pathogens so can be a particular aid against contracting upset stomachs in countries where tummy troubles are a common issue for travellers.

 

Probiotics and IBS-D

Unlike the above causes of ‘upset stomach’ IBS-D is not an infection, however in some instances it can be triggered by a GI infection, such as food poisoning. Many IBS sufferers do have gut dysbiosis with a reduction in ‘friendly’ strains of bacteria, and increased levels of pathogens. For this reason, Saccharomyces boulardii can still be used to excellent effect against the symptom of diarrhea in IBS-D sufferers. Read more about dysbiosis on the Probiotics Learning Lab.

Another probiotic strain: Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM^® may be useful to use in combination with S. boulardii to provide good all round gut support. One trial⁸ using this particular strain found that study participants that took this probiotic strain in combination with 2 other strains, over a 14 week period, saw a statistically significant reduction in episodes and severity of loose stools, compared to those in the placebo group. To read more about IBS-D visit the Probiotics Learning Lab.

Healthcare professionals can read more about the strains included in this article on the Probiotics Database.

Best probiotic strains for occasional diarrhea and upset stomach

There are a few different probiotics which have shown potential to help alleviate diarrhoea symptom (see list of strains below); however, overall Saccharomyces boulardii is regarded as the 'go-to' strain for all types of diarrhoea^9,10 including: infectious diarrhoea, viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu), traveler’s diarrhea and IBS-D. This transient probiotic strain effectively cleanses pathogens from the digestive tract, and helps to restore the gut flora back to a healthy balance. It can be taken alone, but as it is transient and does not colonise in the gut, ideally should be used in conjunction with other colonising probiotic strains. To sum up:

• Saccharomyces boulardii effectively removes pathogens from the gut, including Salmonella and E. coli; is effective against rotavirus and other stomach bugs, and can be used for all types of diarrhoea including traveler's diarrhea and IBS-D.
• Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM^® has been researched for diarrhoea and IBS symptoms.
• Lactobacillus paracasei CASEI 431^® increases IgG antibody, which is one of the body’s first immune responses against viral and bacterial infections
• Taking a high-quality well-researched daily probiotic helps to maintain a healthy microbiome may help to avoid upset stomachs

See more related articles below:

Probiotics & Antibiotic-Associated diarrhoea.

Probiotics vs Stomach Flu

Probiotics & Clostridium difficile

References

1. nhs.uk. (2018). Probiotics 'Ease Upset Stomachs'. [online] Available at: <https://www.nhs.uk/news/medication/probiotics-ease-upset-stomachs/> [Accessed 7 October 2018].
2. Hochter, W. et al (1990). 'Saccharomyces boulardii in acute adult diarrhea. Efficacy and tolerance of treatment.' Munchener Medizinische Wochenschrift; Vol. 132 (12) pp. 188-192
3. Tung J.M. et al., (2010), ‘Prevention of Clostridium difficile with Saccharomyces boulardii: A systematic review’. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology, 23(12):817-821.
4. Das S, et al. (2016) Efficacy and Safety of Saccharomyces boulardii in Acute Rotavirus Diarrhea: Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial from a Developing Country. J Trop Pediatr. Dec;62(6):464-470
5. Rizzardini G. et al., (2012), ‘Evaluation of the immune benefits of two probiotic strains Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis, BB-12® and Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei, (L. casei 431®) in an influenza vaccination model: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study’. Br.J.Nutr; 107:876-84.
6. Gaon D. et al., (2003), ‘Effect of Lactobacillus strains and Saccharomyces boulardii on persistent diarrhoea in children’. Medicina, 63:293-298.
7. Kollaritsch, H. et al. (1993). 'Prevention of traveller's diarrhea with Saccharomyces boulardii. Results of a placebo controlled double-blind study'. Fortschr Med, 111(9): 152-6
8. Heiser, C.R. et al. (2004). ‘Probiotics, soluble fiber, and L Glutamine (GLN) reduce nelfinavir (NFV) - or lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-related diarrhea.’ J. Int. Assoc Physicians AIDS Care (Chic Ill), 3(4):121-129.
9. Li Z, Zhu G, Li C, Lai H, Liu X, Zhang L. Which Probiotic Is the Most Effective for Treating Acute Diarrhea in Children? A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2021 Nov 29;13(12):4319. doi: 10.3390/nu13124319. PMID: 34959871; PMCID: PMC8706888.
10. Zengbin L et al., (2021) Which Probiotic Is the Most Effective for Treating Acute Diarrhea in Children? A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients, 13: 4319.