Is It Advisable to Use Probiotics Routinely After a Colonoscopy? A Rapid Comprehensive Review of the Evidence.

2025-06-09
Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) 13(2)

PubMed: 40559234
DOI: 10.3390/medsci13020076

Study Design

Type: Review
Methods: This review is to evaluate and summarize the available scientific evidence supporting the use of probiotics post-colonoscopy and to define their real efficacy as a routine treatment in a clinical setting.

About 5-20% of patients who undergo colonoscopy, in the days and weeks following the procedure, develop various symptoms (abdominal pain, bloating, and bowel alteration) mainly related to dysbiosis induced by the propaedeutic intestinal preparation. Some studies have positively evaluated the impact of the administration of different mixtures of probiotics in preventing and/or limiting this symptomatology. The aim of this review is to evaluate and summarize the available scientific evidence supporting the use of probiotics post-colonoscopy and to define their real efficacy as a routine treatment in a clinical setting.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07	—	Reduced Gastrointestinal Symptoms	Beneficial	Small	View source Some studies have positively evaluated the impact of the administration of different mixtures of probiotics in preventing and/or limiting this symptomatology.
Lactobacillus plantarum LP01	—	Reduced Gastrointestinal Symptoms	Beneficial	Small	View source Some studies have positively evaluated the impact of the administration of different mixtures of probiotics in preventing and/or limiting this symptomatology.