In Vivo Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces boulardii on Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Lactic Acid during Antibiotic Treatment

Antibiotic therapy can disrupt gut microbial homeostasis, leading to dysbiosis and diminished production of advantageous microbial-derived metabolites, like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This study investigated the effects of probiotic supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces boulardii on SCFA and lactic acid production during antibiotic-induced dysbiosis in rats. Twenty-five male Rattus norvegicus were randomly allocated into five groups: control, antibiotic-only, antibiotic + L. plantarum, antibiotic + S. boulardii, and antibiotic + combined probiotics. Dysbiosis was induced for 14 days using three antibiotics, followed by probiotic administration (1 × 10⁹ CFU/day). Faecal SCFA concentrations were quantified using gas chromatography. Antibiotic treatment significantly (p < 0.05) reduced SCFA production compared with the control group, with acetate decreasing from 5.157 ± 0.67 to 0.977 ± 0.254 µmol/g, butyrate from 0.510 ± 0.03 to 0.06 ± 0.00 µmol/g, and propionate from 4.30 ± 0.02 to 0.510 ± 0.07 µmol/g. Probiotic supplementation partially restored SCFA levels, with improved metabolite production observed in both single- and combined-probiotic groups. Lactate levels also varied across treatments, with values of 20 mmol/L in the control group, 13 mmol/L in the antibiotic group, 19 mmol/L in the L. plantarum group, 30 mmol/L in the S. boulardii group, and 35 mmol/L in the combined-probiotic group, suggesting enhanced microbial fermentation activity. The study’s findings suggest that probiotic supplementation mitigated antibiotic-induced metabolic disruption and promoted recovery of gut microbial function. The findings demonstrate the potential therapeutic value of L. plantarum and S. boulardii, particularly in combination, for restoring gut metabolic balance following antibiotic treatment.