Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of probiotics in Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in children

The efficacy of probiotics supplementation in children undergoing Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy remains controversial. This study aimed to meta-analyze whether probiotics supplementation in triple therapy could improve H. pylori eradication rates and reduce therapy-related side effects in children. Electronic databases PubMed and Embase were searched to identify all randomized controlled trials in pediatric patients comparing probiotics supplementation with placebo or no extra intervention in H. pylori eradication therapy. Two authors independently extracted the data. Results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and accompanying 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Stata version 12.0 was used to perform all statistical analyses. Seven studies consisting of 508 pediatric patients were included in our study. The pooled ORs (studies n = 7) of eradication rates by intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis in the probiotics group versus the control group were 1.96 (95 % CI 1.28–3.02) and 2.25 (95 % CI 1.41–3.57), respectively. The pooled OR (studies n = 5) of incidence of total side effects was 0.32 (95 % CI 0.13–0.79), with significant heterogeneity observed (I2 = 71.9 %). Conclusion: Probiotics supplementation in triple therapy for H. pylori infection may have beneficial effects on eradication and therapy-related side effects, particularly diarrhea, in children.