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Probiotics as prevention of radiation-induced diarrhoea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2010

Jaroslav Timko
Jaroslav Timko*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Central Military Hospital, Ruzomberok, Slovakia
*
Correspondence to: Jaroslav Timko, Department of clinical microbiology, Central Military Hospital, Ruzomberok, Slovakia. Email: timkoj@uvn.sk
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Abstract

Aim: To assess the efficacy of a probiotic preparation on the prevention of radiation-induced diarrhoea in cancer patients.

Methods: Group of 42 radio-oncology patients who had undergone adjuvant post-operative radiation therapy (RT) after abdominal and pelvic cancer were randomised to receive either the probiotic preparation “5” Strain Dophilus (twice per day; L-Group), or the preparation Hylak Tropfen Forte (40 drops, three times per day; H-Group). Supplementation started on the first day and lasted until the end of RT. Efficacy endpoints were the incidence and the severity of the radiation-induced diarrhoea. All patients received a paper form in which they recorded monitored parameters on a daily basis during RT.

Results: The mean daily number of bowel movements during the whole period was 4.16 in the L-Group and 2.52 in the H-Group; 62.5% of patients in L-Group and 81% in H-Group had a mean daily number of bowel movements of ≤4/day. Abdominal pain was recorded in 25% of the patients in L-Group and 22% of the patients in H-Group. Blood in the bowel movement was found in one patient from H-Group (9 days). Of patients in L-Group, 27% required diphenoxylate treatment during pelvic radiotherapy, compared with 55% in H-Group. Of patients from L-Group, 9% required antibiotics administration, compared with 25% in H-Group.

Conclusion: We concluded that the prophylactic probiotic therapy produced a highly favourable benefit/risk ratio. Supplementation with the probiotic preparation is an easy and safe approach to protect cancer patients from the risk of radiation-induced diarrhoea and carry out improvement in their quality of life.

Keywords

DiarrhoeaHylakprobioticsradiotherapy
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 9 , Issue 4 , December 2010 , pp. 201 - 208
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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