Efficacy and safety of probiotics as adjuvant agents for Helicobacter pylori infection: A meta‑analysis

  • Authors:
    • Zhifa Lv
    • Ben Wang
    • Xiaojiang Zhou
    • Fucai Wang
    • Yong Xie
    • Huilie Zheng
    • Nonghua Lv
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 9, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2174
  • Pages: 707-716
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine whether probiotics could help to improve the eradication rates and reduce the side effects associated with anti‑Helicobacter pylori treatment, and to investigate the optimal time and duration of probiotic administration during the treatment, thus providing clinical practice guidelines for eradication success worldwide. By searching Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Science Citation Index, all the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing probiotics as adjuvant agents of anti‑H. pylori standard triple‑therapy regimens with placebo or no treatment were selected. Statistical analysis was performed with the Comprehensive Meta Analysis Software. Subgroup, meta‑regression and sensitivity analyses were also carried out. Twenty‑one RCTs involving a total of 3,814 participants met the inclusion criteria. The pooled eradication rates of the probiotic group were 80.3% (1,709/2,128) by intention‑to‑treat (ITT) and 83.8% (1,709/2,039) by pro‑protocol analyses; the pooled relative risk (RR) by ITT for probiotic supplementation versus treatment without probiotics was 1.12 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06‑1.19]. A reduced risk of overall H. pylori therapy‑related adverse effects was also found with probiotic supplementation (RR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.40‑0.91). The subgroup analyses showed that probiotic supplementation prior and subsequent to the treatment regimen both improved eradication rates for H. pylori infection. Furthermore, probiotic treatment lasting >2 weeks and including Lactobacillus or multiple probiotic strains significantly enhanced the efficacy. In conclusion, supplementation with probiotics for H. pylori eradication may be effective in increasing eradication rates and decreasing therapy‑related side effects. Probiotic administration prior or subsequent to therapy and for a duration of >2 weeks may increase the eradication efficacy.
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March-2015
Volume 9 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Lv Z, Wang B, Zhou X, Wang F, Xie Y, Zheng H and Lv N: Efficacy and safety of probiotics as adjuvant agents for Helicobacter pylori infection: A meta‑analysis. Exp Ther Med 9: 707-716, 2015.
APA
Lv, Z., Wang, B., Zhou, X., Wang, F., Xie, Y., Zheng, H., & Lv, N. (2015). Efficacy and safety of probiotics as adjuvant agents for Helicobacter pylori infection: A meta‑analysis. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 9, 707-716. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2174
MLA
Lv, Z., Wang, B., Zhou, X., Wang, F., Xie, Y., Zheng, H., Lv, N."Efficacy and safety of probiotics as adjuvant agents for Helicobacter pylori infection: A meta‑analysis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 9.3 (2015): 707-716.
Chicago
Lv, Z., Wang, B., Zhou, X., Wang, F., Xie, Y., Zheng, H., Lv, N."Efficacy and safety of probiotics as adjuvant agents for Helicobacter pylori infection: A meta‑analysis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 9, no. 3 (2015): 707-716. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2174