title: The effect of oral administration of Lactobacillus GG on antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal side-effects during Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One-week triple therapy is currently considered the golden standard against Helicobacter pylori. However, gastrointestinal side-effects are among the major pitfalls in such regimens. Probiotic supplementation might help to prevent or reduce such drug-related manifestations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether adding the probiotic Lactobacillus GG to an anti-H. pylori regimen could help to prevent or minimize the gastrointestinal side-effects burden.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty healthy asymptomatic subjects screened positive for H. pylori infection were randomized to 1 week rabeprazole (20 mg b.d.), clarithromycin (500 mg b.d.), tinidazole (500 b.d.) and the probiotic Lactobacillus GG for 14 days or to the same regimen with a placebo preparation. Patients completed validated questionnaires during the week of treatment and during the following 3 weeks, to determine the type and severity of side-effects and an overall judgement of tolerability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diarrhoea, nausea and taste disturbance were significantly reduced in the Lactobacillus GG supplemented group (relative risk=0.1, 95% CI: 0.1-0.9; relative risk=0.3, 95% CI: 0.1-0.9; relative risk=0.5, 95% CI: 0.2-0.9, respectively). An overall assessment of treatment tolerability showed a significant difference in favour of the Lactobacillus GG supplemented group (P=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lactobacillus GG supplementation showed a positive impact on H. pylori therapy-related side-effects and on overall treatment tolerability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armuzzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cremonini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bartolozzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Canducci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Candelli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ojetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cammarota
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Lorenzo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pola
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
mesh_terms: D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D064750:Rabeprazole; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D014011:Tinidazole; D064750:Rabeprazole; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole