1.
The effect of synbiotics in improving Helicobacter pylori eradication: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Pourmasoumi, M, Najafgholizadeh, A, Hadi, A, Mansour-Ghanaei, F, Joukar, F
Complementary therapies in medicine. 2019;:36-43
Abstract
BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori is a common human infection, presenting in half of the world's population. The failure of the Helicobacter pylori eradication rate necessitates the assessment of new options. The aim of the present meta-analysis was therefore to assess the role of synbiotics in Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge up to June 2018 to identify all randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of synbiotics on the treatment of Helicobacter pylori. A random-effects model was applied for pooling analysis to compensate for the heterogeneity of included studies. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was applied to assess potential bias risks. RESULTS A total of 6 randomized controlled trials were found which assessed the effect of synbiotics on Helicobacter pylori eradication rate. The pooled effect size of the intention-to-treat showed that synbiotics can improve eradication rate (RR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.15-1.43; I2 = 0%). Also, common adverse events resulting from antibiotics therapy were significantly reduced by adding synbiotics to conventional antibiotics treatments (RR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.25-0.90; I2 = 36%). However, no difference in eradication rate was observed from per-protocol treatment between intervention and control groups (RR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.69-1.16; I2 = 88%). CONCLUSION The present systematic review and meta-analysis suggested synbiotics might improve Helicobacter pylori eradication rates, and reduce adverse effects. However, these findings assessed a low number of studies, and further high-quality studies are needed to confirm these results.
2.
N-acetylcysteine as an adjuvant therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication.
Fontes, LES, Martimbianco, ALC, Zanin, C, Riera, R
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2019;(2):CD012357
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) is one of the most common pathogens to establish and cause infection in human beings, affecting about 50% of the world's population. Prevalence may be as high as 83% in Latin American countries and as low as 17% in North America. Approximately 20% of infected people will manifest disease; people at high risk include those who live in low- and middle-income countries with poor sanitary conditions, since the mechanism of transmission seems to be oral-oral or faecal-oral (mostly during infancy). There are several antibiotic regimens to treat the infection, but antibiotic resistance is growing around the world. New adjuvant drugs - such as probiotics, statins, curcumin, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) - are being tested to enhance eradication rates.N-acetylcysteine can destabilise the biofilm structure; it also has synergic action with antibiotics, and bactericidal effects. In addition, NAC has antioxidant properties, and has a primary mucolytic effect by reducing the thickness of the gastric mucus layer, both of which may exert beneficial adjuvant effects on H pylori eradication. OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy and safety of N-acetylcysteine as an adjuvant therapy to antibiotics for Helicobacter pylori eradication. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (1966 to April 2018), Embase (1988 to April 2018), CINAHL (1982 to April 2018), LILACS (1982 to April 2018), grey literature databases and trials registries. We handsearched the reference lists of relevant studies. We screened 726 articles and assessed 18 for eligibility. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of any antibiotic regimen plus NAC, in adults infected with H pylori. To be included, trials had to use a control consisting of the same antibiotic regimen with or without placebo. Outcomes of interest were eradication rates, and gastrointestinal, toxic, and allergic adverse events. Reporting of the primary outcomes listed here was not an inclusion criterion for the review. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently reviewed and extracted data and completed the 'Risk of bias' assessments. A third review author independently confirmed the 'Risk of bias' assessments. We used Review Manager 5 software for data analysis. We contacted study authors if there was missing information. MAIN RESULTS We included eight RCTs (with a total of 559 participants) in this review. The studies recruited outpatients aged between 17 and 76 years who were referred to endoscopy centres in several different countries. The certainty of evidence was reduced for most outcomes due to the poor methodological quality of included studies; issues mainly related to the generation of allocation sequence, allocation concealment, and blinding (this last domain related specifically to adverse outcomes).We are uncertain whether the addition of NAC to antibiotics improves H pylori eradication rates, compared with the addition of placebo or no NAC (38.8% versus 49.1%, risk ratio (RR) 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51 to 1.08; participants = 559; studies = eight; very low-certainty evidence). A post-hoc sensitivity analysis, in which we removed studies that tested antibiotic regimens no longer recommended in clinical practice, showed that the addition of NAC may improve eradication rates compared to control (27.2% versus 37.6%, RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.94; participants = 397; published studies = five).We are uncertain whether NAC is associated with a higher risk of gastrointestinal adverse events compared to control (23.9% versus 18.9%, RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.85; participants = 336; studies = five; very low-certaintyevidence), or allergic adverse events (2% versus 0%, RR 2.98, 95% CI 0.32 to 27.74; participants = 336; studies = five; very low-certainty evidence). There were no reports of toxic adverse events amongst included studies. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We are uncertain whether the addition of NAC to antibiotics improves H pylori eradication rates compared with the addition of placebo or no NAC. Due to the clinical, statistical and methodological heterogeneity found in included studies, and the uncertainty observed when analysing therapy subgroups, any possible beneficial effect of NAC should be regarded cautiously.We are uncertain whether NAC is associated with a higher risk of gastrointestinal or allergic adverse events compared with placebo or no NAC. There were no reports of toxic adverse events amongst the included studies.Further large, well-designed, randomised clinical studies should be conducted, with good reporting standards and appropriate collection of efficacy and safety outcomes, especially for current recommended antibiotic regimens.
3.
Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.
Zhou, BG, Chen, LX, Li, B, Wan, LY, Ai, YW
Helicobacter. 2019;(5):e12651
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Whether Saccharomyces boulardii (S boulardii) as an adjuvant therapy are beneficial to H pylori eradication remains controversial. The aim of the study was to update and determine the effects of S boulardii as an adjuvant therapy on H pylori eradication rates and adverse effects. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science to collect all randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of S boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for H pylori eradication from inception to February 2019. Quality of evidence was appraised using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Trial sequential analysis was performed to control the risk of type I and type II errors. RESULTS Eighteen trials with 3592 patients were eligible for meta-analysis. Compared with standard eradication regimen, the S boulardii supplementation could significantly improve eradication rates [risk ratio (RR) = 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.05-1.13; moderate quality evidence] and reduce the incidence of total side effects (RR = 0.47, 95%CI:0.36-0.61; low quality evidence), as well as some gastrointestinal adverse effects, especially diarrhea (RR = 0.33, 95%CI:0.23-0.47; low quality evidence) and constipation (RR = 0.37, 95%CI:0.23-0.57; moderate quality evidence). In addition, the need for discontinuation rate in S boulardii supplementation group was significantly lower than in the control group (RR = 0.33, 95%CI:0.16-0.69, P = .003; moderate quality evidence). The TSA results for overall eradication rates and total side effects indicated that the effects were conclusive. CONCLUSIONS Our meta-analysis shows that S boulardii supplementation on standard eradication therapy significantly increased H pylori eradication rates and reduced the incidence of total side effects and some gastrointestinal adverse effects during eradication therapy.