Efficacy and Safety of Synbiotics in Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study.

Objective High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) is an effective treatment option for relapsed and refractory aggressive malignant lymphoma. However, patients frequently experience treatment-induced gastrointestinal symptoms. Synbiotics, including live microorganisms and nondigestible food ingredients, reportedly ameliorate chemotherapy-induced mucosal damage. In this study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of synbiotics in patients undergoing auto-HSCT. Methods This randomized, double-blinded study included patients with malignant lymphoma eligible for auto-HSCT. The patients were randomly assigned to either a synbiotic group receiving Bifidobacterium longum (BB536) and guar gum or a placebo group receiving a placebo containing dextrin. The supplements were administered twice daily from the start of conditioning chemotherapy up to 28 days after auto-HSCT. The primary endpoint was the duration of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Results In total, 12 patients were included and randomized. The median duration of TPN was 15 (range, 12-33) days in the synbiotic group and 17.5 (range, 0-32) days in the placebo group. The median duration of grade ≥3 diarrhea was shorter in the synbiotic group than in then placebo group (2.5 vs. 6.5 days), as was the duration of hospital stay (31.5 vs. 43 days). The oral intake and quality of life regarding diarrhea and anorexia improved in the synbiotic group after engraftment. Synbiotic infections, including bacteremia, were not observed. Conclusion Synbiotics may reduce gastrointestinal toxicity, thereby reducing nutritional problems and improving the quality of life of patients undergoing auto-HSCT, without severe adverse events.

Studies on interactions between functional foods or dietary supplements and medicines. I. Effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract on the pharmacokinetics of diltiazem in rats.

The effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE), one of the most widely used herbal dietary supplements in Japan, on the pharmacokinetics of diltiazem (DTZ), a typical probe of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A, were examined in rats. The simultaneous addition of GBE to small intestine and liver microsomes inhibited the formation of N-demethyl DTZ (MA), an active metabolite of DTZ produced by CYP3A, in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC(50) of about 50 and 182 microg/ml, respectively. This inhibition appeared to be caused, at least in part, by a mechanism-based inhibition. Both the rate of formation of MA and total amount of CYP in intestinal or hepatic microsomes after a single oral pretreatment with GBE (20 mg/kg) decreased transiently. The pretreatment significantly decreased the terminal elimination rate constant and increased the mean residence time, after intravenous administration of DTZ (3 mg/kg). Furthermore, it significantly increased the area under the concentration-time curve and absolute bioavailability after oral administration of DTZ (30 mg/kg). These results indicated that the concomitant use of GBE in rats increased the bioavailability of DTZ by inhibiting both intestinal and hepatic metabolism, at least in part, via a mechanism-based inhibition for CYP3A.