08-13-2008, 10:42 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Propecia, CA
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Yogurt May Protect Liver Health
Quote:
Probiotic yogurt for the treatment of minimal hepatic encephalopathy.
Bajaj JS, Saeian K, Christensen KM, Hafeezullah M, Varma RR, Franco J, Pleuss JA, Krakower G, Hoffmann RG, Binion DG.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), the preclinical stage of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE), is a significant condition affecting up to 60% of cirrhotics.
All MHE therapies modify gut microflora, but consensus regarding MHE treatment and long-term adherence studies is lacking. The aim was to determine the effect of probiotic supplementation in the form of a food item, probiotic yogurt, on MHE reversal and adherence.
METHODS: Nonalcoholic MHE cirrhotics (defined by a standard psychometric battery) were randomized with unblinded allocation to receive probiotic yogurt (with proven culture stability) or no treatment (no Rx) for 60 days in a 2:1 ratio.
Quality of life (short form [SF]-36), adherence, venous ammonia, model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores, and inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, interleukin [IL]-6) were also measured. Outcomes were MHE reversal using blinded scoring, OHE development, and adherence.
RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (17 yogurt, 8 no Rx; 84% Child class A) were enrolled. A significantly higher percentage of yogurt patients reversed MHE compared to no Rx patients (71%vs 0%, P= 0.003, intention-to-treat). Yogurt patients demonstrated a significant improvement in number connection test-A (NCT-A), block design test (BDT), and digit symbol test (DST) compared to baseline/no Rx group. Twenty-five percent of no Rx versus 0% of yogurt patients developed OHE during the trial.
Eighty-eight percent of yogurt patients were adherent. No adverse effects or change in covariates were observed. All patients who completed the yogurt arm were agreeable to continue yogurt for 6 months if needed.
CONCLUSIONS: This trial demonstrated a significant rate of MHE reversal and excellent adherence in cirrhotics after probiotic yogurt supplementation with potential for long-term adherence.
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https://www.docguide.com/news/content..._uids=18691193
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