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Prebiotics and probiotics show promise as a therapy for hepatic encephalopathy?

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 7, page 184 (2010)Cite this article

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125 patients with chronic hepatitis, mental state grade 1 or 2 hepatic encephalopathy and hyperammonemia were randomly allocated to receive either Bifidobacterium and fructo-oligosaccharides or lactulose for 60 days. Psychometric tests (to assess psychomotor speed and precision, visual perception, visuo-spatial orientation, visual construction, concentration, attention and memory), electroencephalograms (to assess neurophysiological function) and an assay to assess the serum concentration of ammonia were performed for all patients at 30 days and 60 days.

Both lactulose and treatment with Bifidobacterium and fructo-oligosaccharides significantly decreased serum levels of ammonia and significantly improved mental function as assessed by psychometric tests at 30 days and 60 days. Bifidobacterium and fructo-oligosaccharide treatment significantly improved psychometric test scores and significantly decreased serum levels of ammonia compared with lactulose treatment. Improvement in neurophysiological function was seen in only a few patients in both groups. No adverse effects were observed in the Bifidobacterium and fructo-oligosaccharides group, but occasional abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea and flatulence were seen in the lactulose group.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPERS

  1. Malaguarnera, M. et al. Bifidobacterium combined with fructo-oligosaccharide versus lactulose in the treatment of patients with hepatic encephalopathy. Eur. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 22, 199–206 (2010)

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Authors
  1. Ezzie Hutchinson
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Hutchinson, E. Prebiotics and probiotics show promise as a therapy for hepatic encephalopathy?. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 7, 184 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2010.37

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2010.37

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