title: Meta-analysis: the effect of supplementation with probiotics on eradication rates and adverse events during Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent evidence found probiotics could inhibit Helicobacter pylori colonization from both in vitro and in vivo studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To systematically evaluate whether adding probiotics to anti-H. pylori regimens could improve eradication rates and reduce side effects during anti-H. pylori treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible articles were identified by searches of electronic databases. We included all randomized trials comparing probiotics supplementation to placebo or no treatment during anti-H. pylori regimens. Statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager 4.2.8. Subanalysis/Sensitivity analysis was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 14 randomized trials (n = 1671). Pooled H. pylori eradication rates were 83.6% (95% CI = 80.5-86.7%) and 74.8% (95% CI = 71.1-78.5%) for patients with or without probiotics by intention-to-treat analysis, respectively, the odds ratio (OR) was 1.84 (95% CI = 1.34-2.54); the occurrence of total side effects were 24.7% (95% CI = 20.0-29.4%) and 38.5% (95% CI = 33.0-44.1%) for groups with or without probiotics, especially for diarrhoea, the summary OR was 0.44 (95% CI = 0.30-0.66).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our review suggests that supplementation with probiotics could be effective in increasing eradication rates of anti-H. pylori therapy, and could be considered helpful for patients with eradication failure. Furthermore, probiotics show a positive impact on H. pylori therapy-related side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: C X
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations