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Are probiotics more efficacious than placebo at preventing radiotherapy-induced diarrhoea in adults with cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2013

Marco Tullio Suadoni
Marco Tullio Suadoni*
Affiliation:
St Luke's Hospice, London, UK
*
Correspondence to: Marco Tullio Suadoni, St Luke's Hospice, Kenton Grange, Kenton Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA3 0YG, UK. Tel: 020 8382 8013. E-mail: mtsuadoni@gmail.com
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Abstract

Background

Patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy often develop diarrhoea, causing distress and hindering treatment. As probiotics have favourable effects on the gut flora, they are potentially good candidates in the prevention of radiotherapy-induced diarrhoea (RID).

Purpose

The outcome of interest of this systematic review was the efficacy of probiotics in preventing RID.

Materials and methods

Medline and Embase databases were systematically searched. Four randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were finally selected.

Results

Three RCTs showed beneficial results, which were statistically significant. One RCT showed non-beneficial results, which were not statistically significant. The quality of the studies was mixed, and serious limitations were found.

Conclusion

While the indications are towards a benefit of the use of probiotics in preventing RID, more robust evidence is required in the form of well-designed RCTs.

Keywords

diarrhoeaprobioticradiotherapy
Type
Literature Review
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , June 2014 , pp. 226 - 235
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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