Helicobacter pylori by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
During the past two decades the role of Helicobacter pylori infection have been a topic of intensive research. H. pylori infection can cause acute and chronic gastritis, duodenitis, gastric peptic ulcers and duodenal ulcers. H. pylori has been identified as a risk factor for gastric cancer. Nearly more than 90% of patients with duodenal ulcurs, more than 70% of those with gastric ulcer and more than 80% patients with gastric cancer have H. pylori infection.
Natural treatment for Helicobacter pylori
Non-antibiotic therapies, including herbs,
probiotics, and
antioxidants, have been increasingly investigated as potential
alternatives for the treatment of H. pylori. Consider the use of
essential oils.
Another option is the use of
mastic.
Helicobacter pylori symptom
The most common symptom of helicobacter pylori infection is indigestion.
However, having the Helicobacter pylori bacterium doesn't necessarily mean
you will have indigestion, and having indigestion due to too much acid
doesn't necessarily mean you have the Helicobacter pylori bacteria. In
most people, helicobacter pylori infection causes no symptoms. Those who
do have a symptom from Helicobacter pylori may experience indigestion, abdominal pain, nausea,
bloating and burping. However, just because you have these symptoms does
not mean you have the Helicobacter pylori bacterium infection since these
symptoms can be caused by a number of medical conditions.
Helicobacter Pylori
Diagnosis
Several methods can be used to diagnose H. pylori: invasive methods such
as endoscopy and non-invasive methods such as urea-breath-test, detection
of antigens in stool, detection of specific antibodies in patients sera by
means of serological tests--ELISA and Immunblott, molecular tests PCR and
fluorescence-in situ- hybridisation.
Helicobacter Pylori Treatment
Despite years of experience with Helicobacter
pylori treatment, the ideal regimen for treating the infection has not
been found. The most effective eradication treatment is the combination of
a proton pump inhibitor PPI with
antibiotics, but
10-20% of the patients fail to obtain eradication of the infection.
Antibiotic resistance is a major factor affecting the outcome of
treatment.
Smoking increases the treatment failure rate for
H. pylori eradication.
Sequential treatment for Helicobacter Pylori infection may be a better
option
In patients with Helicobacter pylori infection, a sequential treatment may
be more effective than triple therapy using a proton pump inhibitor and
antibiotics. Dr. Dino Vaira of the University of Bologna, Italy and
colleagues note that European guidelines suggest 7-day triple therapy with
a PPI, and clarithromycin along with amoxicillin or metronidazole for
eradicating H. pylori. Sequential therapy uses a PPI and amoxicillin,
given twice daily for the first 5 days followed by twice daily triple
therapy with a PPI, clarithromycin and tinidazole for a further 5 days.
They reviewed results from 15 studies involving more than 1800 patients.
Overall, sequential therapy produced an eradication rate greater than 90%,
significantly better than the less than 80% rate seen with 7 to 10-day
triple therapy. Gut 2007;56:1353-1357.
Helicobacter Pylori and Cancer
Many epidemiological reports indicate that Helicobacter pylori (H pylori)
infection plays an important role in gastric cancer formation. H pylori is
known to induce chronic inflammation in the gastric mucosa. Its products,
including superoxides, participate in the DNA damage followed by
initiation, and the inflammation-derived
cytokines and
growth factors contribute to the promotion of gastric carcinogenesis. By
eradicating H pylori, gastric inflammation can be cured; the therapy
diminishes the levels not only of inflammatory cell infiltration, but also
atrophy/intestinal metaplasia in part.
Helicobacter Pylori and Vascular Disease
Infection by Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria associated with peptic ulcers and gastric cancer, also appears to increase the risk of diseases of the circulation, also referred to as "vascular disease.
Helicobacter Pylori Questions
Q. Do you think eating a lot of sugar or
fructose can make helicobacter pylori infection worse?
A. It's a good question. I don't know. It has been
reported that berries
could be helpful.
Q. Are
there supplements that suppress H pylori symptoms?
A. I have not seen any good human trials yet, but in
the laboratory several herbs have show anti- helicobacter pylori activity.
These supplements are green tea extract, bacopa, cranberry, probiotics,
and bilberry.
Helicobacter pylori symptom