The role of the microbiome and the use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disorders in adults in the Asia-Pacific region - background and recommendations of a regional consensus meeting.

Uday C Ghoshal, Kok-Ann Gwee, Gerald Holtmann, Yanmei Li, Soo Jung Park, Marcellus Simadibrata, Kentaro Sugano, Kaichun Wu, Eamonn M M Quigley, Henry Cohen

Journal: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology 2018;33(1):57-69

PMID: 28589613

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Abstract

The Asia-Pacific region is diverse, with regard to ethnicity, culture, and economic development incorporating some of the world's least and most developed nations. Gastrointestinal diseases are common in the Asia-Pacific region, and their prevalence, presentation, and management vary considerably within the region. There is growing evidence for an important role for the human gut microbiota in gastrointestinal health. As a consequence, geographic variations in the composition of the gut microbiota may contribute to variations in both the prevalence and response to therapy of specific diseases. Probiotics have been proposed as a valuable option in the prevention and treatment of a number of gastrointestinal illnesses, but the quality of available evidence to support their efficacy is variable. A meeting of international experts in adult and pediatric gastroenterology was held at the Sorbonne University, Paris, France, on April 11 and 12, 2016, to discuss current evidence supporting the use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disorders in the Asia-Pacific region. This article provides an overview of the discussions held at this meeting and recommends the formation of an Asia-Pacific Consortium on Gut Microbiota similar to those established in Europe and North America.

Address: Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital Brisbane, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.; Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.; Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.; Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia and Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia.; RSUPN Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia.; Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.; Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Lynda K and David M Underwood Center for Digestive Disorders, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA.; Clínica de Gastroenterología, Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay.

DOI: 10.1111/jgh.13840