Probiotics in H. pylori Adjunctive Therapy

Current standard eradication therapies face substantial challenges due to increasing antibiotic resistance, significant drug side effects, and suboptimal patient adherence. Research has demonstrated that specific probiotic strains can markedly reduce the incidence of antibiotic-induced gastrointestinal adverse reactions, thereby effectively improving treatment tolerance and patient compliance. However, evidence regarding the efficacy of probiotics in enhancing Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) eradication rates remains heterogeneous and subject to ongoing debate. The therapeutic effects of probiotics exhibit notable strain-specific variability, and optimal administration protocols—including timing, dosage, and treatment duration—have yet to be standardized, leading to inconsistent outcomes across clinical studies. Major international consensus guidelines acknowledge the role of specific probiotic strains in improving treatment tolerance but maintain a cautious stance toward their routine use for increasing eradication rates while emphasizing the importance of selecting clinically validated strains. In conclusion, probiotics represent a valuable adjunctive approach in H. pylori eradication therapy; however, their clinical application requires evidence-based strain selection and warrants further research to establish standardized treatment protocols.