Probiotics-and-Chemotherapy-or-Radiaiton -Induced-Diarrhea

Probiotics and Chemotherapy or Radiation-Induced Diarrhoea

 

For many years, systemic Chemotherapy and Radiation Can induce diarrhea as a possible side effect of the treatment. The impact of diarrhea on these patient’s overall health can be tremendous and sometimes necessitates hospitalization. There are many means to manage or mitigate diarrhea for these patients, however, sometimes, the oncology team may decide to discontinue the treatment to avoid the progression of these symptoms and its consequences. The topic for today’s article is Probiotics and Chemotherapy or Radiaiton Induced Diarrhea

 

Probiotics have been used for decades for many medical purposes such as treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), however, they are used for diarrhea induced by Chemotherapy or Radiation a relatively new concept, The aim for this article is to shed light on this new role based on research done on this field.

According to Khorsoshahi et al  (2023)  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37072129/   a Meta-Analysis on the effects of probiotics on Chemotherapy and or Radiation-Induced diarrhea was done and was published in 2023.

According to this Meta-analysis, there was a statistically significant benefit from using the Probiotics on Chemotherapy and or Radiation-Induced diarrhea (of all grades).

It is concluded that the use of Probiotics can reduce the incidence and severity of Chemotherapy or Radiation-Induced Diarrhea, and it is always recommended to consult your treating oncologist before attempting any medications/supplements including the probiotics to avoid any possible negative interactions with the oncology treatment.

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