Probiotics improved the effectiveness and safety of the quadruple Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection was prevalent all over the world, but the Hp eradication rate remained low. This randomized controlled double blinded study aimed investigated the effectiveness and safety of probiotics combined with the standard regimen in eradicating Hp infection. Methods: Consecutive adult patients who had C14 breath test positivity (>100) and endoscopically diagnosed as chronic active gastritis or gastric ulcer were enrolled and randomized into control group (n=111) and experimental group (n=111). Demographic and clinical characteristics were recoded. The Hp eradication rate and adverse events were compared between two groups. Results: The demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between the control and experimental group (all P values>0.05). The effectiveness rate of control group was 84.7%, which was obviously lower than that of the experimental group (84.7% vs. 94.6%, P=0.041). The total incidence of the adverse events in control group was also statistically higher than that in experimental group (P=0.023). There were no statistically significant differences on the rate of taste disorders and anorexia between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidences of abdominal distension, diarrhoea and constipation in control group were greatly higher than those in experimental group (all P values<0.05). Conclusion: These findings proved that the probiotics can improve the effectiveness and safety of the standard Hp eradication regimen.