Probiotic yogurt effects on intestinal flora of patients with chronic liver disease.

BACKGROUND

Patients with chronic liver disease generally have intestinal flora imbalance that is related to the development and worsening of the disease.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic yogurt on intestinal flora of patients with chronic liver disease.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial, pretest-posttest control group design, was used. Patients were randomized to an experimental group (41 patients) or a control group (40 patients). Patients in the experimental group were given probiotic yogurt (one cup each time, three times per day for 14 days) containing Bacillus bifidus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and Streptococcus thermophilus within 2 hours after meals. Levels of fecal flora, symptoms and signs, and laboratory examination indexes were collected.

RESULTS

After intervention, the experimental group had a lower Escherichia coli count and reduced intestinal flora imbalance (p < .05). Comparison of the experimental and control groups after the intervention showed that the former had improved symptoms and signs, including significant improvement in debilitation, food intake, appetite, abdominal distension, and ascitic fluid (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Probiotic yogurt reduces the levels of intestinal flora imbalance and has an additional therapeutic effect on patients with chronic liver disease.