META-ANALYSIS OF STUDIES ON EVALUATING THE THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF PROBIOTICS AND PREBIOTICS IN ULCER DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION

Helicobacter pylori infection, classified as a group I carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a significant public health problem observed in both developing and developed countries, characterized by high recurrence rates. H. pylori colonizes the gastric mucosa and is known to be the primary cause of chronic gastritis. Gastric microflora plays a crucial role in the emergence and progression of H. pylori-induced diseases. Reducing H. pylori density in the gastric mucosa through nutritional modifications helps lower the risk of developing conditions such as peptic ulcer, chronic gastritis, gastric adenocarcinoma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, and duodenal ulcers. While antibiotic therapy is standard for treating H. pylori infection, issues such as antibiotic resistance and adverse side effects often arise. Research indicates that probiotics, which positively influence the intestinal microflora, provide several benefits: · They increase the eradication rate (complete elimination of the bacteria) in the treatment of H. pylori infection; · They improve the clinical symptoms of the patient; · They enhance treatment efficacy by reducing antibiotic-associated side effects.