Effect of Compound Lactic Acid Bacteria Capsules on the Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Patients with Depression and Diabetes: A Blinded Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to explore the clinical effect of compound lactic acid bacteria capsules on the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in patients with depression and diabetes. METHODS: From January 2020 to January 2021, 60 SIBO patients with depression and diabetes in our hospital were selected and randomized into observation group (compound lactic acid bacteria capsules combined with escitalopram) and control group (Escitalopram) according to the odd and even numbers, 30 cases in each group. The two groups were compared in terms of SAS, SDS, levels of inflammatory factors, immune function, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), treatment effect, and the incidence of adverse reactions. RESULTS: Both self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores in both groups showed a decline after treatment (P < 0.05), and the reduction was more significant in the observation group (t = 10.047, 17.862, all P ≤ 0.001). Both IL-2 and TNF-α in both groups showed a decline after treatment (P < 0.05), and the reduction was more greater in the observation group in relative to the control group (P < 0.05). CD3+ and CD+4 in both groups showed an increase after treatment (P < 0.05), and the increase was more greater in the observation group as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the FPG levels of patients in both groups showed a decline (P < 0.05), and the reduction of FPG levels was more significant in the observation group than that in the control group (t = 3.948, P ≤ 0.001). The control group experienced a remarkably higher incidence of adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: The compound lactic acid bacteria capsule is a boon for SIBO patients with depression and diabetes. It can mitigate depression symptoms, improve immune function, reduce the level of inflammatory factors, and lower the FPG levels, along with fewer adverse reactions and robust effects.