Title:The Use of Probiotics in Different Phases of Diverticular Disease
Volume: 13
Issue: 2
Author(s): Veronica Ojetti, Carmine Petruzziello, Silvia Cardone, Luisa Saviano, Alessio Migneco, Luca Santarelli, Maurizio Gabrielli, Raffaella Zaccaria, Loris Lopetuso, Marcello Covino, Marcello Candelli, Antonio Gasbarrini and Francesco Franceschi*
Affiliation:
- Emergency Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Catholic University of Rome, Rome,Italy
Keywords:
Diverticular disease, probiotics, remission, review, GUT microbiota imbalance, PRISMA.
Abstract: Background & Aims: Diverticular Disease (DD) is a common clinical condition with a
dramatic increasing of the prevalence among industrialized countries. Based on the most used classification,
DD may be divided into asymptomatic diverticulosis, symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular
disease and complicated diverticular disease. Since recent studies pointed out the role of GUT microbiota
imbalance in promoting diverticular formation and inflammation, we have designed a systematic
review focusing on the possible role of probiotics in the management of this condition.
Methods: According to PRISMA, we identified studies on DD patients treated with probiotics, by
searching on Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane and ResearchGate.
Results: 13 studies were included in this review based on our selection criteria: 3 double-blind randomized
placebo-controlled, 6 open randomized, and 4 non-randomized open studies.
Conclusion: This is the first systematic review providing an updated measure of evidence on the efficacy
of probiotics in a different phase of DD. Even though the majority of studies are still preliminary,
current data show a possible clinical application of certain probiotic strains in all stages of DD. Further
investigation is then required to better understand when and how probiotics can be used in different
phases of DD.