title: Mastic gum has no effect on Helicobacter pylori load in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether mastic gum suppresses or eradicates Helicobacter pylori infection in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients with H. pylori infection, and without gastroduodenal ulceration, were recruited from day-case endoscopy lists and treated with mastic 1 g four times daily for 14 days. [13C]Urea breath tests (UBTs) were carried out immediately before, on day 15 and 5 weeks after treatment with mastic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mastic had no effect on H. pylori status in any of the eight completed patients; all remained H. pylori positive by UBT with no change in delta scores [pre-treatment mean +/- s.e.m. 19.1 +/- 3.7, day 15 (post-treatment) 18.7 +/- 3.8, P = 0.8, paired t-test].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite reported anti-H. pylori action in vitro, this preliminary study shows that mastic has no effect on H. pylori in humans.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bebb
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bailey-Flitter
authors.forename: Dlawer
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ala'Aldeen
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Atherton
mesh_terms: D001944:Breath Tests; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D000069997:Mastic Resin; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000069997:Mastic Resin; D012116:Resins, Plant; D014508:Urea