Can Probiotics restore altered microbiota? With the use of PPIs in GERD.

There has been continuously rising evidence reporting that PPIs can alter the composition of the gut microbiota in patients with Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). (4)It is interesting to note the interaction between PPIs and gut microbiota in this patient population and explore the potential scope of probiotics through the spectacle of available scientific evidence.

PPIs alter gut microbiota in GERD Patients: Gene Sequencing Study

A study published by Shi YC et al aimed to assess the association between PPI usage and microbiota characteristics in gastric mucosal and fecal samples using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. GERD patients and healthy controls (HCs) were included. GERD patients taking PPIs were further categorized into short-term and long-term PPI user groups. The results demonstrated that PPI use lowered the relative bacterial diversity of gastric microbiota in GERD patients. Compared to non-PPI users and healthy control groups, higher abundances of Planococcaceae, Oxalobacteraceae, and Sphingomonadaceae were found in the gastric microbiota among PPI users; with Methylophilus genus being dominant among long-term PPI users. In addition to this, significant differences were observed in fecal bacterial microbiota among GERD patients taking PPIs. These patients reported a higher abundance of Streptococcaceae, Veillonellaceae, Acidaminococcaceae, Micrococcaceae, and Flavobacteriaceae present in their fecal microbiota. The study concluded that short and long-term use of PPIs in GERD patients could significantly alter the milieu of gastric and fecal microbiota. (3)

Effect of Probiotics on Restoring Gut Microbiota in PPI Users

Oana B et al published a study evaluating the incidence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth assessed by glucose hydrogen breath test among patients who received PPIs with or without probiotics. Two hundred and forty-eight subjects were included, and the study duration was 12 weeks. The patients were divided into two groups: One hundred and twenty-eight patients with GERD received PPI treatment and a control group of 120 healthy individuals without such intervention were enrolled. The patient group with GERD was further randomized into two subgroups: placebo arm (who received PPI and placebo) and probiotics arm (who received PPI and probiotics).

The results indicated that after 12 weeks of treatment, dysbiosis was detected among 56.2% of patients from the placebo group, compared to 6.2% from the probiotics group (p<0.001). Bacterial overgrowth was reported in 5% of healthy controls. The probiotics group demonstrated a lower incidence of dysbiosis, similar to that seen in healthy controls (p = 0.740). The study thus concluded that probiotics administration was able to reduce dysbiosis among patients treated with PPIs. (4)

Adding Probiotics to GERD Treatment – Symptom Relief Benefits beyond correcting Gut Dysbiosis

Jing Cheng et al, published a systematic review to examine the efficacy of probiotics in alleviating the frequency and severity of symptoms among adult gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients. The review comprised 13 prospective studies that were published and 12 articles were encompassed in the analysis. One article reported on two probiotic groups; thus, 14 comparisons were included in the final analysis. The collated results indicated that 79% of studies reported positive benefits of probiotics on symptoms of GERD. 45% of studies noted benefits on reflux and dyspepsia symptoms; and 81% found improvements in other upper gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, abdominal pain, and gas-related symptoms, such as belching, gurgling, and burping, observed across different studies. It was thus concluded that probiotic use can be beneficial for improving clinical symptoms associated with GERD.(5)

Summary

In the Indian healthcare environment, Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) remains one of the most utilized drugs in the treatment of Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is largely due to the ease of their availability. Clinicians may like to be more sensitized regarding the risk of PPI-induced alteration of gut microbiota and its potential implications. In the light of available evidence, treatment with probiotics may help to mitigate PPI-induced gut dysbiosis3 in GERD patients. Lastly and importantly, the addition of probiotic-based treatment may provide better symptom relief in GERD patients5, thus considering their use becomes clinically relevant in practice.

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