The effect of probiotics on Helicobacter pylori eradication.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Conflicting results have been reported on the effect of a variety of probiotic strains on Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication. In this study, we evaluated the outcome of a probiotic strain composed of bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus faecium on HP eradication. METHODOLOGY: We recruited 352 HP infected patients who were randomized into a triple-plus-probiotics group or a triple-only group; the participants received 1 week of PPI-based triple therapy with or without probiotics supplements. For the triple-plus-probiotics group, probiotics was continued for 8 weeks. All patients in the two groups were evaluated for 4 weeks after completion of therapy. RESULTS: Using the intention to treat analysis, evaluation of the triple-plus-probiotics group showed a higher eradication rate than the triple-only group (83.5% vs. 73.3%, p=0.027). Diarrhea and overall side effects were more common in the triple-only group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with probiotic strains, composed of Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus faecium, were shown to improve drug compliance, reduce side effects and enhance the intention-to-treat eradication rate of HP.