Systematic review with meta-analysis: Saccharomyces boulardii supplementation and eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection

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Systematic review with meta-analysis: Saccharomyces boulardii supplementation and eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection

Szajewska et al., 2015 | Aliment Pharmacol Ther | Meta Analysis

Citation

Szajewska H, Horvath A, Kołodziej M. Systematic review with meta-analysis: Saccharomyces boulardii supplementation and eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2015-Jun;41(12):1237-45. doi:10.1111/apt.13214

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Unsatisfactory Helicobacter pylori eradication rates and therapy-associated side effects remain a problem. AIM: To update our 2010 meta-analysis on the effects of Saccharomyces boulardii as supplementation to a standard eradication regimen on H. pylori eradication rates and therapy-associated side effects. METHODS: The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched from July 2010 (end date of last search) to February 2015, with no language restrictions, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs); additional references were obtained from reviewed articles. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines. RESULTS: Eleven RCTs (2200 participants, among them 330 children) met the inclusion criteria. Of the 853 patients in the S. boulardii group, 679 (80%, 95% CI 77-82) experienced eradication compared with 608 of the 855 patients (71%, 95% CI 68-74) in the control group [relative risk (RR) 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.17; moderate quality evidence]. S. boulardii compared with control reduced the risk of overall H. pylori therapy-related adverse effects (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.31-0.64; moderate quality evidence), particularly of diarrhoea (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.42-0.62; high quality evidence) and nausea [RR 0.6, 95% CI 0.44-0.83 (moderate quality of evidence)]. CONCLUSIONS: In the populations studied, the effectiveness of standard triple therapy was unsatisfactory. The addition of S. boulardii significantly increased the eradication rate, but it was still below the desired level of success. Saccharomyces boulardii significantly decreased some therapy-related side effects.

Key Findings

Eleven RCTs (2200 participants, among them 330 children) met the inclusion criteria. Of the 853 patients in the S. boulardii group, 679 (80%, 95% CI 77-82) experienced eradication compared with 608 of the 855 patients (71%, 95% CI 68-74) in the control group [relative risk (RR) 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.17; moderate quality evidence]. S. boulardii compared with control reduced the risk of overall H. pylori therapy-related adverse effects (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.31-0.64; moderate quali

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 2200
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Child
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Helicobacter Infections
  • Helicobacter pylori
  • Humans
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Saccharomyces

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: saccharomyces-boulardii-diarrhea

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09