Philippine E-Journals

A Meta Analysis on the Efficacy and Safety of Saccharomyces boulardii on Diarrrhea due to Amoebiasis in Children

Manuel Leon F. Villanueva | Felizardo N. Gatcheco | Ma. Grace C. Rosales

 

Abstract:

Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii on diarrhea due to amoebiasis in children. Methods: The following electronic databases were searched through December 2015 for studies relevant to acute or bloody diarrhoea and S. boulardii: MEDLINE/PUBMED, and The Cochrane Library; additional references were obtained from local unpublished article. Randomized-controlled trials were included. Results: Three randomized-controlled trials (175 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Combined data from 3 randomized-controlled trials showed that S. boulardii significantly reduced the duration of diarrhea compared with control. The mean of diarrhea was significantly decreased by 0.70 days (95% CI, -1.05 to -0.34) under the fixed effects model. Under the random effects model, the mean duration of diarrhea was likewise significantly decreased by 0.71 days (95% CI, -1.20 to -0.23). The difference in duration of bloody diarrhea in days was significant between the 2 groups using the fixed effects (Z=4.17; p<0.0001) but not in the random effects model. The results also showed that there was a protective effect for cyst passage with the use of S.boulardii (RR=0.36; 95% CI:0.11 – 1.14) although it was not statistically significant. The mean duration of fever was significantly decreased by 0.13 days (95% CI, -0.17 to -0.08) both under the fixed and random effects model. Under the random effects model, no significant difference was noted in the duration of abdominal pain (Z= 1.01; p=0.31). No adverse effects were reported in all studies. Conclusion: S boulardii as an adjunct to metronidazole demonstrated advantages statistically compared to metronidazole alone for the treatment of acute diarrhea among children. The duration of diarrhea and fever was significantly shortened in those given S boulardii. The duration of bloody diarrhea appeared shorter in the S boulardii. No adverse effects were noted.