Table 3.
Probiotics administration for the management of CRC patients
| # of patients | Intervention | Duration | Outcome | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 6 viable microorganisms of Lactobacillus and bifidobacteria | Twice daily 107 mg (orally) probiotics for 6 months | Reduced the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17A, IL-17C and IL-22 | [112] |
| 57 | 2 mg Enterococcus faecalis T110, 10 mg Clostridium butyricum TO-A, and 10 mg Bacillus mesentericus TO-A | Daily (six tablets/day) for 15 days | Reduced the incidence of post-operative complications, including superficial incisional infections, time of meal intake, and time of flatus | [113] |
| 8 | 1.4 × 1010 CFUs Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04, 7 × 109 CFUs Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, and 0.63 g inulin | Daily (two tablets/day) 8–78 days |
- Increased bacterial diversity - Increased the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria, including Faecalibacterium and Clostridiales spp - Reduced CRC-associated genera, including Fusobacterium and Peptostreptococcus |
[114] |
| 84 | Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 (1.75 × 109 cfu), Lactobacillus plantarum (0.5 × 109 cfu), Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 (1.75 × 109 cfu), and Saccharomyces boulardii (1.5 × 109 cfu) | One day before operation and continuing for another 15 days post-operatively |
- Decreased the rate of all postoperative major complications, including pneumonia, anastomotic leakage, and surgical site infections - Shortened the time until hospital discharge |
[115] |
| 98 | Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supplementation (twice daily at a dose of 1–2 × 1010) and fiber (11 g guar gum per day) during chemotherapy | For 24 weeks | Reduced the frequency of diarrhea and abdominal discomfort | [116] |
| 70 | 6 viable microorganisms of Lactobacillus and bifidobacteria plus omega-3 fatty acid at a dose of 2 g |
- Probiotics for 4 weeks - Omega-3 fatty acid for 8 weeks |
- Improved the overall quality of life - Alleviated certain side effects of chemotherapy - Reduced inflammatory biomarkers, including IL-6 |
[117] |
| 28 |
2 × 109 cfu Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011 and Lactobacillus acidophilus R0052 |
For 12 weeks |
- Decreased irritable bowel symptoms - Improved cancer-related quality of life |
[118] |