Impact of Lactobacillus Reuteri and Three Other Probiotics in Helicobacter Pylori Eradication

Abstract

AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness and safeness of Lactobacillus reuteri and additionally three other probiotics to conventional triple therapy against Heliobacter pylori. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We randomly selected 115 H. pylori positive dyspeptic patients, to be treated for 14 days with conventional triple therapy, without and with probiotics. Our first group of 62 patients received conventional triple therapy, while the second group of 53 patients was treated with L. reuteri and Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium lactis, all encapsulated in PharmaS Helicobalans capsules alongside the conventional triple therapy. One month after completion of treatment, Helicobacter pylori presence was evaluated. If the H. pylori test would turn out negative, it would prove the success of the eradication. RESULTS: Thirty eight patients in the first group (61.3%) were successfully treated. In the second group, where probiotics were added, the success of eradication was observed in 37 of them (69.8%). Even though eradication was higher in the second group, the difference between the two sides in terms of statistics was not significant (p = 0.199). Regarding the side effects of ordered treatment, 27 patients in the first group (43.5%) had complaints, while the second group had 17(32%). Again, there was seen no difference statistically important between the two sides. CONCLUSION: Including probiotics additionally to conventional H. pylori treatment may decrease the side effects of the therapy and increase the H. pylori eradication success. Randomized and prospective work is needed on a larger scale.