Dutch Researchers Warn Against Probiotics For Pancreatitis

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Dutch researchers warn against probiotics for pancreatitis Wed Jan

23, 1:04 PM ET

 

 

 

THE HAGUE (AFP) - A Dutch university warned Wednesday against using

probiotic bacteria to treat patients with acute pancreatitis, after

an experiment using these microbes showed high mortality rates.

 

 

In a clinical study conducted among 296 patients between 2004-2005,

volunteers were given either probiotic bacteria or a placebo, the

University Medical Centre (UMC) in Utrecht said in a press release.

 

Twenty-four people died in the study -- an overall figure that

tallies with previous work involving patients with this life-

threatening condition.

 

However, nine occurred in the placebo group, but 24 occurred in the

probiotics group.

 

The UMC could not be reached for comment as to which strain of

bacteria was used in the treatment.

 

In the experiment, the researchers added probiotics to the patients'

dripfeed " in the expectation that it would boost the body's

resistance to harmful bacteria " , the UMC said in its press release.

 

However, the outcome was " dramatically different from what was

expected " , a UMC spokeswoman told the Netherlands' ANP news agency

separately.

 

In the press release, the UMC warned against using probiotic bacteria

for patients with organ failure, intensive care patients or for

people who receive a drip-feed.

 

" The exact cause of the deaths is under investigation, " it said,

adding though that post-mortems had ruled out any possibility that

the probiotics caused infection.

 

Because the overall mortality rate did not differ from earlier

research and the study was done double-blind -- meaning that neither

patients or researchers knew who were getting the probiotics -- the

unusual mortality rate was only noticed when the study was over.

 

Pancreatitis occurs from damage to the pancreas, a key enzyme-making

organ of the digestive system that lies just below the stomach.

 

In its " severe acute " form, pancreatis can have a very high mortality

rate if the pancreatic tissue dies and becomes infected, and

antibiotics and anti-inflammatories typically have litte effect.

 

Previous research has been conducted in several countries to see

whether probiotics -- live micro-organisms often called " friendly "

germs -- can help.