Effect of probiotic treatment on cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy: A meta-analysis

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is an early and reversible form of hepatic encephalopathy. The documentations on the treatment with probiotics are inconsistent. The present meta-analysis was to verify the role of probiotics in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with MHE. Seven electronic databases were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until July 2015. The effects of probiotics on serum ammonia, endotoxin, and MHE were evaluated. A total of 14 RCTs (combined n = 1132) were included in the meta-analysis. When probiotics were compared to placebo or no treatment, probiotics were more likely to reduce values in the number connection test (NCT; week 4: MD = −30.25, 95% CI: −49.85 to −10.66), improve MHE (week 4: OR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.47; week 12: OR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.32), and prevent overt HE progression (week 4: OR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.67) in patients with liver cirrhosis. When probiotics was compared to lactulose, probiotics tended to reduce serum ammonia levels (week 4: MD = −0.33 µmol/L, 95% CI: −5.39 to 4.74; week 8: MD = 6.22 µmol/L, 95% CI: −24.04 to 36.48), decrease NCT (week 8: MD = 3.93, 95% CI: −0.72 to 8.58), improve MHE (week 4: OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.45 to 1.91; week 12: OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.35 to 1.51) and prevent the development of overt HE (week 4: OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.17 to 5.44; week 12: OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 0.50 to 14.64) in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, lactulose appears to be more effective in reducing NCT values as compared to probiotics (week 4: MD = 6.7, 95% CI: 0.58 to 12.82). Probiotics can decrease serum ammonia and endotoxin levels, improve MHE, and prevent overt HE development in patients with liver cirrhosis.