title: Inhibitory effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the growth of Helicobacter pylori: a possible explanation of the effect of diet on peptic ulceration.
abstract: Diets high in polyunsaturated fatty acids may protect against duodenal ulcer, possibly through inhibiting the growth of Helicobacter pylori. This hypothesis was tested in vitro by incubating H pylori microaerophilically with a range of polyunsaturated fatty acids. omega-3 Linolenic acid significantly, but reversibly, inhibited growth at 1.8, 2.5, and 5 x 10(-4) M (p < 0.01), while concentrations of 10(-3) M killed virtually all organisms, with cell lysis observed by electron microscopy. Similar inhibitory effects were seen with other polyunsaturated fatty acids, at concentrations of 2.5 x 10(-4) M the relative inhibitory potencies were oleic (C18:1) < linoleic (C18:2) < arachidonic (C20:4) < omega-3 linolenic (C18:3) = omega-6 linolenic (C18:3) = eicosapentanoic (C20:5) acid. Cell fractionation studies with 14C labelled linolenic acid showed that the linolenic acid was associated with the membrane fraction. Commonly ingested dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit the growth of H pylori in vitro, an effect which deserves further in vivo study.
authors: Department of Therapeutics, University Hospital, Nottingham.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Thompson
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Cockayne
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Spiller
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D019787:Linoleic Acid