Lack of Therapeutic Effect of a Specially Designed Yogurt for the Eradication of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection

Abstract

Background: Current antibiotic treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection is often associated with frequent adverse effects and resistance to antibiotics. Alternative treatment methods to control H. pylori infection are needed. Some specific strains of lactic acid bacteria (probiotics) in dairy products are known to inhibit the growth of H. pylori in vitro. A clinical trial was conducted to see the efficacy of a specially designed yogurt product containing specific probiotics on the eradication of H.pylori. Method: The yogurt was prepared using three Lactobacillus spp. (L. acidophilus and L. casei) and one commercial starter culture (L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus). All these cultures were previously evaluated, and found to have strong in vitro inhibitory effects on the growth of H. pylori. Twenty-seven asymptomatic women positive for H. pylori on gastric biopsy and ¹³C urea breath test were recruited, and administered 175 ml of the yogurt three times a day for 30 days. The ¹³C urea breath test was administered again, one month after stopping the yogurt treatment to detect the presence of H. pylori.Results: In 26 of 27 subjects, the urea breath test values remained positive, indicating that the consumption of the yogurt had no effect on the eradication of H. pylori. Conclusion: Although the designed fermented milk containing lactobacilli is very effective in the inhibition of H. pylori growth in vitro, eradication of this infection in humans is difficult to achieve by consuming this product.

Efficacy of probiotics in Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy

“…It has been well documented in studies published since 2000 that some lactobacillus and bifidobacteria species inhibit H. pylori proliferation by means of the secretion of bacteriocin and organic acids (15)(16)(17)(18). It has also been established that probiotics interfere with H. pylori adhesion to epithelial cells, increase gastric barrier stabilization and decrease mucosal inflammation.…”

Potential Uses of Probiotics in Clinical Practice

“…Not all efforts with probiotics have been successful, and one study that used yogurt to deliver a proposed probiotic organism failed to confer a beneficial effect (149). However, this study had several flaws; it assessed eradication only by a urea breath test, it used strains that had only inhibited H. pylori in vitro and were thus not proven probiotics, and it was only tested in 27 asymptomatic women.…”

Nutritional Properties of Probiotics with Prebiotics and Their Potential to Impact on Mineral Absorption and Immunological Status in Vivo

“…This finding is highly agreed with Duggan et al, [19] reports. The results of Wendakoon et al, [20]indicated that ingestion of probiotic bacteria is associated highly with the protection against gastric ulcers in human.…”