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Probiotics: sorting the evidence from the myths

Mimi Pham, Daniel A Lemberg and Andrew S Day
Med J Aust 2008; 189 (3): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01971.x
Published online: 4 August 2008

In reply: The comments by Chatterjee and Fraser regarding the danger of administering probiotics to patients with acute severe illnesses are important additions to the debate on the risks and benefits of probiotic administration. We also thank Senanayake for his interesting comments on the possible role of probiotics in weight gain.


  • 1 Sydney Children’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
  • 2 School of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW.


Correspondence: andrew.day@unsw.edu.au

  • 1. Besselink MGH, van Santvoort HC, Buskens E, et al. Probiotic prophylaxis in predicted severe acute pancreatitis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2008; 371: 651-659.
  • 2. Kunz AN, Noel JM, Fairchok MP. Two cases of Lactobacillus bacteremia during probiotic treatment of short gut syndrome. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2004; 38: 457-458.
  • 3. Riquelme AJ, Calvo MA, Guzmán AM, et al. Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia after Saccharomyces boulardii treatment in immunocompromised patients. J Clin Gastroenterol 2003; 36: 41-43.
  • 4. Barclay AR, Stenson B, Simpson JH, et al. Probiotics for necrotizing enterocolitis: a systematic review. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2007; 45: 569-576.
  • 5. Deshpande G, Rao S, Patole S. Probiotics for prevention of necrotising enterocolitis in preterm neonates with very low birthweight: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Lancet 2007; 369: 1614-1620.

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