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Probiotics improved efficacy of H. pylori treatment
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The addition of probiotics as an adjuvant to standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication increased treatment efficacy and decreased disease symptoms and treatment-related adverse effects, according to data presented at UEG Week.
Goran Hauser, MD, PHD, from the Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Croatia, and colleagues aimed to determine the efficacy of adding probiotics to standard H. pylori eradication therapy by performing a prospective trial of H. pylori-positive patients from 121 general practitioners’ offices from September 2009 to June 2012. Therapy-related symptoms were evaluated by questionnaire and monitoring throughout the trial, during which 650 participants were randomly assigned to two probiotic capsules daily or placebo for 2 weeks, taken at least 2 hours before or after antibiotic therapy.
Goran Hauser
At the end of treatment, 87.38% of the probiotic group were cured compared with 72.55% of the placebo group (P<.001). Odds ratio, absolute and relative risk reductions, and number needed to treat all indicated superiority of the probiotic group. Average symptom intensity was 1.17 for the probiotic group compared with 1.07 for the placebo group at baseline (P<.001), and 0.55 vs. 0.76 at 15-day follow-up (P<.001).
“Adding probiotics to the standard triple therapy for H. pylori eradication significantly contributes to treatment efficacy and distinctly decreases the adverse effects of therapy and the symptoms of the underlying disease,” the researchers wrote.
For more information:
Hauser G. Abstract OP104. Presented at: UEG Week, Oct. 18-22, 2014; Vienna.
Disclosure: See the abstract for a full list of relevant financial disclosures.