February 11, 2020

Findings from recent studies concerning the effects of probiotics against infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (two common upper gastrointestinal conditions) emphasize that these friendly bacteria benefit more than just the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the site of their best known effects in the body.

A meta-analysis conducted by researchers in China published in 2019 in the journal Medicine concluded that probiotics improved the elimination of the bacteria H. pylori and minimized side effects when added to a standard eradication regimen. H. pylori infections are the major cause of gastroduodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis, gastric cancer and other disorders.

Xiaoguang Shi, MM, and colleagues analyzed 40 randomized, controlled trials that included a total of 8,924 participants treated for H. pylori infection. Participants who received Lactobacilli, Bifidobacterium or Saccharomyces probiotics or a mixture of the three were compared to those who received a placebo or no additional treatment. The probiotics were given before, at the same time, at the same time and after, or after the standard H. pylori eradication regimen for periods ranging from seven to 35 days.

“Our study indicated that probiotics improved the eradication rate and reduced the incidence of side effects when administered with treatments of eradicating H. pylori, especially combined with the bismuth quadruple regimen,” the authors reported. “Better eradication effects were exerted when using probiotics before and throughout the eradication treatment or using probiotics for more than two weeks.”

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is another common upper GI condition. GERD occurs when the stomach acid that facilitates digestion flows upward into the esophagus. GERD causes heartburn, indigestion and an increased risk of Barrett’s esophagus, a condition caused by damage from long-term stomach acid exposure that is associated with an increased risk of a type of esophageal cancer.

“In this systematic review, 13 prospective clinical studies, comprising 14 comparisons, were reviewed to determine the potential of probiotics to alleviate upper-GI symptoms in GERD in the general adult population,” wrote Jing Cheng and Arthur C. Ouwehand in an article appearing on January 2, 2020 in the journal Nutrients. “The mechanism of action of probiotics has focused primarily on the lower digestive tract, and the activities of probiotics in the upper-GI tract remain largely unknown.”

The selected studies included randomized trials, before and after comparisons and crossover studies. Probiotics included L. gasseri LG21, B. bifidum YIT 10347, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019, Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, and multistrain formulas that contained strains of species of B. bifidum, B. lactis, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Treatment times ranged from one to 12 weeks.

Eleven of the 14 comparisons revealed improvements in GERD symptoms in association with probiotics. Improvements in regurgitation, reflux or heartburn, symptoms of indigestion, nausea, abdominal pain and gas-related symptoms were among the effects associated with probiotic supplementation in various studies.

These studies add to the research findings in support of probiotics’ multifaceted benefits and emphasize their positive role in the support of upper GI health.