Probiotics-Containing Yogurt Ingestion and H. pylori Eradication Can Restore Fecal Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Dysbiosis in H. pylori-Infected Children

Abstract

This study investigated the compositional differences in fecal microbiota between children with and without H. pylori infection and tested whether probiotics-containing yogurt and bacterial eradication improve H. pylori-related dysbiosis. Ten H. pylori-infected children and 10 controls ingested probiotics-containing yogurt for 4 weeks. Ten-day triple therapy plus yogurt was given to the infected children on the 4th week. Fecal samples were collected at enrollment, after yogurt ingestion, and 4 weeks after successful H. pylori eradication for cytokines and microbiota analysis using ELISA and metagenomic sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, respectively. The results showed H. pylori-infected children had significantly higher levels of fecal TGF-β1 than those who were not infected. Eight of 295 significantly altered OTUs in the H. pylori-infected children were identified. Among them, the abundance of F. prausnitzii was significantly lower in the H. pylori-infected children, and then increased after yogurt ingestion and successful bacterial eradication. We further confirmed probiotics promoted F. prausnitzii growth in vitro and in ex vivo using real-time PCR. Moreover, F. prausnitzii supernatant significantly ameliorated lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-8 in HT-29 cells. In conclusions, Probiotics-containing yogurt ingestion and H. pylori eradication can restore the decrease of fecal F. prausnitzii in H. pylori-infected children.

The Challenges of Eradicating Pediatric Helicobacter pylori Infection in the Era of Probiotics

“…A recent review underlined the major influence of H. pylori on the bacterial community composition of the entire gastrointestinal tract, which might result in a complex dysbiosis impairing not only the stomach but also especially the gut microbiome [ 13 ], proving that children with H. pylori infection have a lower amount of fecal Bifidobacterium spp and a decreased Bifidobacterium to E. coli ration in their feces as compared to H. pylori -negative children [ 90 ]. A more recent study performed on pediatric patients with H. pylori infection found a significant decrease of fecal F. prausnitzii , an essential bacterium that favors the decrease of gut inflammation triggered by H. pylori lipopolysaccharide [ 16 ]. The same study suggested that supplementation with B. lactis and L. acidophilus has a positive effect on F. prausnitzii growth.…”

“…children with H. pylori infection → fecal F. prausnitzii → ↓ gut inflammation triggered by H. pylori lipopolysaccharide [ 16 ].…”

“…However, the impact of H. pylori infection on gastric microbial diversity, as well as gut microbiome and gut inflammatory parameters, is still far from being elucidated. Animal model and human studies on this topic raised multiple controversies concluding that chronic H. pylori infection might result in gut dysbiosis and consequently act as a major contributor to the local and systemic disorders [ 16 ]. Thus, we might state that H. pylori has the ability to influence bacterial community composition along the entire gastrointestinal tract with subsequent life-threatening long-term consequences in terms of chronic inflammation and further malignant transformation.…”

A Pilot Study on Sensory Evaluation of Commercial Yogurt Products by Italian Middle School Pupils

“…Several studies have confirmed that yogurt has positive effects on human health, reducing the risk of disease [3,4]. In fact, it has been observed that yogurt consumption helps treat diseases including obesity, allergies, intestinal tract inflammation, colon cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Helicobacter pylori infection [5][6][7][8][9][10].…”

“…Although many studies have explored the positive factors registered by the consumption of yogurt in relation to the health and well-being of children and adolescents [5][6][7][8][9][10], little is known about their tastes in relation to these products and the factors influence their choices in purchasing functional foods, particularly yogurt.…”