Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a meta-analysis
Abstract
Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is highly prevalent worldwide and is closely associated with many gastric conditions. Current methods for eradicating H. pylori include triple or quadruple therapy, including antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, and bismuth agents; however, with antibiotic abuse and increased drug resistance rates, the effectiveness of traditional methods is gradually decreasing, with many adverse effects such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and intolerance. In recent years, there has been controversy regarding whether adding Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) to traditional therapies is beneficial for eradicating H. pylori.
Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of S. boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of H. pylori.
Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases from January 2002 to January 2023. The primary outcome was the H. pylori eradication rate. The secondary outcomes included total adverse effects, abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, constipation, nausea, vomiting, taste disorders, and other adverse reactions. We evaluated the included studies for publication bias and heterogeneity. Fixed- and random-effects models were used for studies without and with heterogeneity, respectively, to calculate the risk ratios (RRs) and conduct sensitivity and subgroup analyses.
Results: Nineteen studies comprising 5,036 cases of H. pylori infection were included in this meta-analysis. The addition of S.…
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