Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a meta-analysis

BackgroundHelicobacter 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 a...

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Main Authors: Manning Li, Ying Xie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1441185/full
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author Manning Li
Ying Xie
author_facet Manning Li
Ying Xie
author_sort Manning Li
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundHelicobacter 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.AimTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of S. boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of H. pylori.MethodsWe 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.ResultsNineteen studies comprising 5,036 cases of H. pylori infection were included in this meta-analysis. The addition of S. boulardii to traditional therapy significantly improved the H. pylori eradication rate [RR=1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08–1.15] and reduced the incidence of total adverse effects (RR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.37–0.66), diarrhea (RR=0.36, 95% CI: 0.26–0.48), abdominal distension (RR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.33–0.72), constipation (RR=0.38, 95% CI: 0.26–0.57), and nausea (RR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.37–0.68). However, it did not reduce the occurrence of abdominal pain, vomiting, or taste disorders.ConclusionsS. boulardii supplementation in traditional eradication therapy significantly improves the H. pylori eradication rate and reduces the total adverse effects and incidence of diarrhea, bloating, constipation, and nausea.Systematic review registrationProspero, identifier CRD42024549780.
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spelling doaj-art-01bf511172c343198c1257aa35f2d2bc2025-02-12T07:25:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-02-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.14411851441185Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a meta-analysisManning LiYing XieBackgroundHelicobacter 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.AimTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of S. boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of H. pylori.MethodsWe 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.ResultsNineteen studies comprising 5,036 cases of H. pylori infection were included in this meta-analysis. The addition of S. boulardii to traditional therapy significantly improved the H. pylori eradication rate [RR=1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08–1.15] and reduced the incidence of total adverse effects (RR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.37–0.66), diarrhea (RR=0.36, 95% CI: 0.26–0.48), abdominal distension (RR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.33–0.72), constipation (RR=0.38, 95% CI: 0.26–0.57), and nausea (RR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.37–0.68). However, it did not reduce the occurrence of abdominal pain, vomiting, or taste disorders.ConclusionsS. boulardii supplementation in traditional eradication therapy significantly improves the H. pylori eradication rate and reduces the total adverse effects and incidence of diarrhea, bloating, constipation, and nausea.Systematic review registrationProspero, identifier CRD42024549780.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1441185/fullSaccharomyces boulardiiHelicobacter pylorimeta-analysiseradication rateadverse effects
spellingShingle Manning Li
Ying Xie
Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a meta-analysis
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Saccharomyces boulardii
Helicobacter pylori
meta-analysis
eradication rate
adverse effects
title Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a meta-analysis
title_full Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a meta-analysis
title_fullStr Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a meta-analysis
title_short Efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a meta-analysis
title_sort efficacy and safety of saccharomyces boulardii as an adjuvant therapy for the eradication of helicobacter pylori a meta analysis
topic Saccharomyces boulardii
Helicobacter pylori
meta-analysis
eradication rate
adverse effects
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1441185/full
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