September 2, 2004 – While some research indicates that probiotics may cure yeast vaginitis, they may not prevent it when it occurs following treatment with antibiotics, according to a recent study1.
It is common that after treatment with antibiotics, the yeast Candida albicans causes vaginitis in women. To verify the preventive effect of probiotics on this type of inflammation, Australian researchers recruited 235 women between the ages of 18 and 35 who needed to take an antibiotic to cure an infection of a non-vaginal nature. None of them were pregnant.
During the six days of antibiotic treatment as well as the following four days, half of the participants received probiotics type Lactobacilluseither orally in powder form or vaginally in suppository form. Placebo was given to the other participants.
Overall, 23% of the participants had vaginitis. Those who took the oral probiotic preparation had a 6% higher relative risk than the placebo group of suffering from the infection; those who had vaginal treatment saw this risk rise to 38%.
Faced with these results, the researchers prematurely ended the clinical trial, judging that it would not have been ethical to continue in the face of evidence that the treatment provided no benefit.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
According to InteliHealth (BMJ)
1. Pirotta M, Gunn J, Chondros P, Grover S, O’Malley P, Hurley S, Garland S, Effect of lactobacillus in preventing post-antibiotic vulvovaginal candidiasis: a randomized controlled trial, British Medical Journal, August 27, 2004.
