Favourable effect of an acidified milk (LC-1) on Helicobacter pylori gastritis in man.
OBJECTIVE
The supernatant of Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 culture was shown to be bactericidal and to have a partial, acid-independent suppressive effect on Helicobacter pylori in humans. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of L. johnsonii La1-acidified milk (LC-1) on H. pylori infection.


METHODS
Fifty-three volunteers infected with H. pylori as determined by positive 13C-urea breath test and positive serology were randomized to receive either LC-1 or a placebo 180 ml twice a day for 3 weeks. All subjects also received clarithromycin 500 mg bid during the last two weeks of acidified milk therapy. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and biopsies were performed at inclusion and repeated 4-8 weeks after the end of the treatment. H. pylori infection was confirmed by urease test and histology. H. pylori density and inflammation were scored using a modified Sydney classification.


RESULTS
LC-1 ingestion induced a decrease in H. pylori density in the antrum (P= 0.02) and the corpus (P= 0.04). LC-1 also reduced inflammation and gastritis activity in the antrum (P= 0.02 and P= 0.01, respectively) and of activity in the corpus (P= 0.02). Clarithromycin eradicated H. pylori in 26% of the subjects; LC-1 did not improve the antibiotic effect.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that H. pylori infection and gastritis can be down-regulated by LC-1.
Felley
C P
CP
Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Corthésy-Theulaz
I
I
Rivero
J L
JL
Sipponen
P
P
Kaufmann
M
M
Bauerfeind
P
P
Wiesel
P H
PH
Brassart
D
D
Pfeifer
A
A
Blum
A L
AL
Michetti
P
P
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001944:Breath Tests; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology*; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin