Comparative efficacy of goreisan and probiotics in Japanese adults with acute infectious gastroenteritis: Randomized controlled trial

Aim: This study compared the efficacy of goreisan with that of probiotics in Japanese adults with acute infectious gastroenteritis. Methods: Outpatients aged ≥20 years with acute infectious gastroenteritis were enrolled in this open-label, prospective randomized controlled trial from December 2014 to December 2015. Seventy-five patients were randomly assigned to receive goreisan or probiotics (Bifidobacterium). The primary outcomes were duration and frequency of diarrhea and vomiting. The secondary outcomes were duration of concomitant symptoms including nausea, abdominal pain, fever, fatigue, and anorexia. Results: The duration and frequency of diarrhea and vomiting were not significantly different between the goreisan (n = 24) and probiotic groups (n = 25). The secondary outcomes duration of anorexia (median, 2 days; range, 1–5 days vs 2.5 days, range, 1–5 days, P = 0.01) and of abdominal pain (median, 2 days; range, 1–5 days vs 3 days, range, 1–5 days, P = 0.02) were significantly shorter in the goreisan group than in the probiotic group. Conclusions: The duration of concomitant symptoms of anorexia and abdominal pain were significantly shorter in the goreisan group than in the probiotic group. Goreisan may have the potential to improve the general symptoms of gastroenteritis.