Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus is a probiotic bacterium commonly used in the production of yogurt and other fermented dairy products. There is scientific evidence supporting the use of certain probiotics, including L. delbrueckii bulgaricus (often in combination with Streptococcus thermophilus), to help mitigate some side effects of antibiotics, particularly antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). Several meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated that probiotics can reduce the incidence of AAD in children and adults. The mechanism is thought to involve the restoration and maintenance of gut microbial balance, which is often disrupted during and after antibiotic therapy.

While much of the clinical research focuses on multispecies probiotic formulations or other Lactobacillus species (such as L. rhamnosus GG or L. casei), some evidence specifically implicates yogurt containing L. delbrueckii bulgaricus and S. thermophilus as beneficial for this purpose. For example, a number of studies have shown that consuming live-culture yogurt during antibiotic treatment can decrease the risk and severity of diarrhea. However, the strength of evidence specifically for L. delbrueckii bulgaricus alone is moderate, as most formulations include it in combination with other strains. Overall, while not the single most studied probiotic for AAD, its use is grounded in scientific rationale and supported by clinical data, particularly when delivered as part of yogurt or multispecies probiotics.

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