The Efficacy of Probiotics in the Management of Helicobacter pylori: A Systematic Review

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative microorganism that causes chronic dyspepsia, gastritis, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma. Various antibiotic regimens are employed to eradicate it; however, antibiotic resistance has skyrocketed in recent years, resulting in a reduction in eradication rates. As a result, numerous novel therapeutic approaches are being adopted in clinical practice, and probiotics are being extensively investigated. Probiotics are living bacteria that, when consumed, offer many medicinal advantages that may be accomplished by altering the amount or activity of gut flora. Their beneficial influence on gut health, immune-system modulation, and cancer therapy is the subject of extensive investigation, owing to their perceived safety and simplicity of use. The primary objective of this review is to investigate the function of probiotics in the eradication of H. pylori, either alone or in conjunction with traditional treatments. Data were collected from PubMed, PubMed Central, Medline, Cochrane, and Google Scholar, and relevant articles were chosen following the PRISMA guidelines. The search returned 2,489 records, of which 123 full-text articles were screened for eligibility. Two reviewers independently appraised 16 relevant articles, and 11 high-quality studies were ultimately included. In conclusion, probiotic monotherapy does not have a significant effect on the eradication rates of H. pylori, but in conjunction with standard treatment regimens there was mild improvement in eradication rates and a significant reduction in the side effects of antibiotics.