Open study investigating the effects of Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 on eradication rate and side-effects of second-line antibiotic treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Ninety adult patients were randomised into two groups: Group 1 ingested 1×10^8 CFU of Lactobacillus reuteri three times daily, for 14 days from the start of the antibiotics treatment, and Group 2 received the same eradication treatment but no probiotic. The eradication treatment was taken for 7 days.

Each subject recorded gastrointestinal side-effects during 4 weeks from the start of the therapy, using a validated questionnaire. Helicobacter pylori status and side-effects were assessed 6 weeks after completion of the intervention. The incidence of moderate-severe nausea and diarrhoea was significantly reduced in the probiotic group versus control.

Conclusion: In H. pylori-positive subjects L. reuteri supplementation during and after second line eradication therapy increased the eradication rate and reduced the incidence of the most common side effects associated with antibiotic therapy in second-line treatment.