Nutrigenomic approach to tackle the unpleasant journey to Helicobacter pylori‐associated gastric carcinogenesis

Abstract

While dietary habits or nutritional intake continue to rank as significant factors influencing the incidence of cancer, there have been considerable scientific uncertainties about who will benefit, but who about will not benefit from nutrition. This might be due to inadequate knowledge about an individual's genetic background, the cumulative effect of nutrients on genetic expression profiles, ambiguous clinical differences between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries and the lack of information about active protein induction. During the past 200 years of nutrition research, we have experienced revolutionary advances in both chemistry and genomics. According to the high expectations for tailored medicine, a nutrigenomic approach harboring tremendous potential to change the future of dietary guideline and personal recommendations will provide an essential basis for personalized dietary recommendations to prevent common multifactorial diseases decades before their overt clinical manifestation. In the current review, we introduce our efforts to discover Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-related disease biomarkers applicable for diagnostic, predictive and therapeutic purposes using several kinds of technology. For instance, based on publications showing the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of Korean red ginseng on mitigating H. pylori-associated gastric atrophy, a nutrigenomic approach allows us to confirm that Korean red ginseng prevents H. pyloriassociated gastric cancer in predictable ways.

Detouring the Undesired Route of Helicobacter pylori-Induced Gastric Carcinogenesis

“…Rather than certain agents or drugs harboring risk of side effects with chronic administration, continuous intake of phytoceuticals or phytonutrients might provide higher chance of benefits through suppressing the activities of H. pylori [39]. However, while dietary habits or nutritional intake continue to rank as significant factors influencing the incidence of gastric cancer, there have been considerable scientific uncertainties about who will benefit, but who about will not benefit from nutrition, which might be due to inadequate knowledge about an individual's genetic background, the cumulative effect of nutrients on genetic expression profiles, ambiguous clinical differences between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries and the lack of information about active protein induction [40]. Therefore, profuse and core knowledge about a nutrigenomic study to guide optimal dietary intervention and personal recommendations will provide an more essential basis for personalized dietary recommendations to prevent common multi-factorial diseases decades before their overt clinical manifestation.…”

“…Though host genetic polymorphisms, environmental factors, H. pylori strains, and host immune response might affect the outcome, but the common fact is that chronic gastric inflammation is the fundamental basis for H. pylori -associated gastric carcinogenesis. Therefore, the detouring the unpleasant journey to H. pylori -associated gastric carcinogenesis seems to be the effective strategy to prevent H. pylori -associated gastric cancer, for which optimal treatment strategy or agents should be developed more [40] (Figure 3B). …”

The Korean Perspective of <b><i>Helicobacter pylori</i></b> Infection: Lessons from the Japanese Government's Policy to Prevent Gastric Cancer

“…As expressed by the Korean Society of Cancer Prevention and the Korean College of Upper Gastrointestinal Disease and Helicobacter Research, cautious steps should be made to generalize the policy for H. pylori eradication to prevent gastric cancer in Korea. Our group wants to further extend the supplementation of efficacious phytoceuticals or phytonutrients to achieve a higher eradication rate and efficacious prevention of gastric cancer, based on our previous results that mere eradication yields poorer outcomes than eradication combined with the attenuation of bug-associated gastric inflammation using phytoceuticals or phytochemicals, presumptively Korean red ginseng (2-3 g for additional 10 weeks after eradication regimen), probiotics imposing higher eradication rates, fewer side effects of triple regimen and higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, special licorice extracts achieving lower mutagenic actions as well as high rejuvenating activities of H. pylori -associated chronic atrophic gastritis, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) through inhibiting bacterial adhesion and colonization, anti-inflammatory actions, higher regenerative activities and lowered mutagenic outcomes, and S-allyl cysteine (SAC) from garlic as a demethylating agent globally regulating H. pylori inflammatory activities [17,18,19,20,21,22]. Common orchestrated mechanisms might offer rescue from antibiotics resistance.…”

Epigenetics – The New Kid on the Block

“…Nutrigenomics has also played an important role in preparing diets for individual genotypes [37]. In this context, Korean red ginseng has been recommended for the prevention of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric cancer [38].…”