Effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum Fermented Milk on Helicobacter pylori and Serum Pepsinogen Levels in Humans

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection is an important risk factor for gastric diseases. Some probiotics are useful for suppressing H. pylori infection. Bifidobacterium bifidum YIT 4007 can improve the experimental gastric injury in rats and the disease stages on the gastric mucosa in peptic ulcer patients. We evaluated the fermented milk using a clone (BF-1) having the stronger ability to survive in the product than this parent strain to clarify the in vitro suppressive effect of BF-1 on H. pylori and the in vivo efficacy of BF-1 fermented milk on H. pylori and gastric health. In the mixed culture assay of BF-1 and H. pylori, the number of pathogens was decreased such that it was not detected after 48 h in the Brucella broth with a decrease in pH values. In the cell culture experiment with human gastric cells, the H. pylori infection-induced IL-8 secretion was suppressed by the preincubation of BF-1. In a human study of 12-wk ingestion (BF-1 group, n = 40; placebo group, n = 39) with a randomized double-blind placebo-control design, the H. pylori urease activity and gastric situation were evaluated using a urea breath test (UBT) and the serum pepsinogen (PG) levels as biomarkers for inflammation or atrophy, respectively. In the H. pylori-positive subjects, the difference (DeltaUBT) of the UBT value from the baseline value in the BF-1 group (n = 34) was lower than that in the placebo group (n = 35) at 8 wk. The baseline UBT values showed a negative correlation with DeltaUBT values at 8 and 12 wk in the BF-1 group but not in the placebo. In the PG-positive subjects classified by the PG test method, the BF-1 group was lower in DeltaUBT values than the placebo group at 8 and 12 wk. In the active gastritis class by PG levels, the BF-1 group was lower in their DeltaUBT values than the placebo at 8 and 12 wk. The PG I levels in the BF-1 group were lower than the placebo at 12 wk. The PG II levels in the BF-1 group did not change during the ingestion period, but the placebo was increased. The PG I/II ratios slightly decreased from baseline at 12 and 20 wk in the BF-1 and placebo groups. These patterns were also observed in the H. pylori-positive subjects. The improving rates of upper gastrointestinal symptomatic subjects and total symptom numbers in the BF-1 group were higher than those in the placebo. These results indicate that BF-1 fermented milk may affect H. pylori infection or its activity, gastric mucosal situation, and the emergence of upper gastrointestinal symptoms.

Novel Probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum CECT 7366 Strain Active against the Pathogenic Bacterium Helicobacter pylori

“…Furthermore, in clinical trials with human volunteers, the incidence of gastrointestinal disorders declined after ingestion of lactobacilli, and in some cases, H. pylori levels decreased, although H. pylori infection was hardly ever fully eradicated (3). With respect to Bifidobacterium, Miki et al (35) reported that ingestion of B. bifidum in fermented milk by H. pylori-positive subjects affected their urea breath test values, serum pepsinogen levels, and upper gastrointestinal symptoms. The aforementioned results indicate that even though positive results have been obtained with probiotics pertaining to the genus Lactobacillus, few studies have focused on Bifidobacterium activity against H. pylori.…”

“…Lactobacillus acidophilus (2,3,30), Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (46), Bacillus subtilis (42), and even Weissella confusa (38) have rendered an antagonistic effect against the bacterium. Some in vitro studies showing bifidobacterial activity against H. pylori have been reported, with different levels of success (34,35), but they remain scarce. Regarding the metabolites involved in growth inhibition, lactic acid and other organic acids are con-sidered to play a major role (2,35).…”

“…Some in vitro studies showing bifidobacterial activity against H. pylori have been reported, with different levels of success (34,35), but they remain scarce. Regarding the metabolites involved in growth inhibition, lactic acid and other organic acids are con-sidered to play a major role (2,35). However, other studies have pointed to the existence of other metabolites that may exert an antagonistic effect.…”

Quantitative Detection of Viable Bifidobacterium bifidum BF-1 Cells in Human Feces by Using Propidium Monoazide and Strain-Specific Primers

“…Bifidobacterium bifidum strain YIT 10347 (BF-1) was isolated from B. bifidum YIT 4007 as an oxygen-resistant strain, and it is used as a starter culture for the production of fermented milk products. The consumption of fermented milk containing BF-1 can improve gastric symptoms caused by Helicobacter pylori infection (5), and BF-1 affects regulatory mechanisms in human cells, especially nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) expression, which is induced by H. pylori infection (6).…”

Fermentation Characteristics and anti-Helicobacter pylori Activity of Aqueous Broccoli Fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum MG208

“…Therefore, in order to both, reduce antibiotic side effects and improve patient compliance, there is a clear need for the development of new treatment approaches, replacing antibiotics. Recent reports show that natural phytochemicals in combination with lactic acid or lactate are promising alternatives to antibiotics (Pantoflickova et al, 2003;Miki et al, 2007;Apostolidis et al, 2011;Michael et al, 2011;Lin et al, 2011;Yang et al, 2012).…”