Yeast supplements reduce H. pylori eradication diarrhea associated with antibiot

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Yeast supplements reduce H. pylori eradication diarrhea (associated with

antibiotic treatment to eradicate the peptic ulcer-causing

bacterium Helicobacter pylori.)

29 November 2005

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2005; 17: 1357-1361

Turkish study results suggest that taking supplements of a yeast strain

known as Saccharomyces boulardii may help reduce or prevent diarrhea

associated with antibiotic treatment to eradicate the peptic ulcer-causing

bacterium Helicobacter pylori.

For their study, Deniz Güney Duman, from Marmara University in Istanbul, and

colleagues enrolled 376 patients with either peptic ulcers or stomach pain

who were receiving antibiotic therapy for 14 days to eradicate H. pylori.

The participants were divided into two groups to receive either 500 mg of S.

boulardii twice daily over the course of their antibiotic therapy or no

additional treatment. The researchers monitored the patients for around 4

weeks after the treatment ended.

Within the 14-day treatment period, the team found that 6% of patients in

the S. boulardii group developed diarrhea compared with 12% of those who did

not receive the supplements.

In the 4-week follow-up period, 1% of participants in the treatment group

developed diarrhea compared with 4% of those in the non-treatment group.

Writing in the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Duman and

his team conclude: " Our study suggests that S. boulardii is effective and

safe in prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, when given

concomitantly with H. pylori eradication.

" Further studies addressing the quality-of-life gains and cost-utility

analysis are needed before reaching definitive conclusions for

recommendation of S. boulardii to patients receiving H. pylori eradication. "