Favourable effect of regular intake of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus johnsonii on Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis.
BACKGROUND
Lactobacillus johnsonii (Lj1) had an in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effect on Helicobacter pylori. Fermented milk containing Lj1 (LC1), coadministered with antibiotics had a favourable effect on H. pylori gastritis.


OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the effect of LC1 intake without antibiotics on H. pylori gastritis.


METHODS
Fifty H. pylori positive healthy volunteers were randomised in a double-blind study to LC1 or placebo. Gastric biopsies from the antrum and corpus were obtained before, and after 3 and 16 weeks of treatment, for histology and quantitative cultures.


RESULTS
Severity and activity of antral gastritis was reduced after 16-week LC1 intake (pretreatment and 16-week inflammatory cell score: 6.0 +/- 0.8 vs. 5.3 +/- 0.1; P=0.04). H. pylori density decreased in the antrum after LC1 intake (3-week: 4.4 +/- 0.6; 16-week: 4.3 +/- 0.5 log10 colony forming units (cfu) vs. pretreatment 4.5 +/- 0.4 log10 cfu; P=0.04, respectively). Mucus thickness increased after 16 weeks of LC1 consumption (change of mucus thickness with LC1 and placebo in the antrum: 0.6 +/- 1.3 vs. -0.2 +/- 1.0, P=0.01; in the corpus: 0.3 +/- 1.1 vs. -0.6 +/- 1.5, P=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
LC1 intake had a favourable, albeit weak, effect on H. pylori associated gastritis, particularly in the antrum. Regular ingestion of fermented milk containing L. johnsonii may reduce the risk of developing disorders associated with high degrees of gastric inflammation and mucus depletion.
Pantoflickova
D
D
Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Corthésy-Theulaz
I
I
Dorta
G
G
Stolte
M
M
Isler
P
P
Rochat
F
F
Enslen
M
M
Blum
A L
AL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D043302:Cultured Milk Products; D003672:Defecation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000178:diet therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000382:microbiology