Across 3 studies (including 2 meta-analyses and 1 RCT), 2 reported beneficial effects and 1 reported a neutral effect on reducing diarrhea duration in children with acute gastroenteritis. The predominant effect size is mixed, ranging from small (MD -0.87 days) to large (MD -32 hours), with no clear most-studied dose due to unreported dosing. The most-studied population is children with acute gastroenteritis.
Caveats: The two meta-analyses show divergent effect sizes (small vs. large), and the single RCT found no significant benefit, suggesting inconsistency. Dosing information is not reported across studies, limiting dose-specific conclusions. One meta-analysis is from 2014 and may not reflect current clinical practice.
Compared with placebo or no treatment, L. reuteri reduced diarrhea duration (four RCTs, n = 347, mean difference, MD -0.87 days, 95% CI [-1.43, -0.31]).
The duration of diarrhea after randomization in both groups was similar (P = 0.6).
Compared with placebo or no treatment, DSM 17938 significantly reduced the duration of diarrhoea (mean difference -32 h, 95% confidence interval (CI): -41 to -24)