Study shows lactobacillus is effective in improving H. pylori-infected diseases

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are considered to be the most important etiological agents of chronic gastritis. The eradication of H. pyloridepends on the combination of antibiotics and acid suppression drugs. Unfortunately, the side effects of antibiotics reduce the curative effect and treatment compliance. Probiotics provides an alternative method which can inhibit H. pylori infection efficiently without antibiotics associated side effects.

A research team from China investigated the potential anti-H. pylori and anti-inflammation in vivo effects of two lactobacillus strains from human stomach. Their study will be published on January 28, 2010 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

Their results illustrated that both lactobacillus strain Lactobacillus fermenti (L. fermenti) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus), showed significant anti-H. pylori activity, while strain L. fermenti displayed more efficient antagonistic activity in vivo whose efficacy is close to the standard triple therapy, thus significantly improving the H. pylori-associated Balb/c gastritis.

Their study provided a new clue for the therapy of H. pylori associated diseases, which could be prevented and treated by regulating the balance of flora in stomach. Thus lactobacillus can be a choice to replace antibiotics or as an adjuvant to antibiotics in treating H. pylori-infected diseases.

Source: World Journal of Gastroenterology