[Effect of vitamin C administration on gastric colonization by Helicobacter pylori].
BACKGROUND
The conventional treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection consists on antibiotics, to which a small but significant number of patients are non-responders. Alternative treatments to the infection have been suggested, including the use of antioxidants. There has been such increasing interest upon vitamin C since it was demonstrated vitamin C concentrations in the stomach of infected patients are significant lower compared to healthy subjects. Pharmacological doses of vitamin C have been investigated for eradication of H. pylori, with controversial results.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of oral administration of vitamin C on H. pylori colonization in the stomach of patients with chronic gastritis and patients with peptic ulcer who had experienced antimicrobial treatment failures.


METHODS
Protocol I: randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled study, with patients with chronic gastritis, with no previous treatment for eradication. Protocol II: open, uncontrolled study, with patients with peptic ulcer, with at least two previous treatments for eradication. Treatment consisted of 5 g vitamin C for 28 consecutive days. The effect of the treatment was evaluated by 14C-urea breath test concerning eradication rate, radioactivity variation and infection suppression.


RESULTS
In Protocol I, 38 patients completed the study--21 received vitamin C and 17 received placebo 28 consecutive days. Eradication rates per-protocol analysis with vitamin C were 0, with 95% confidence interval of 0-15%. In Protocol II, eight patients completed treatment. Eradication rate was 0%, with 95% confidence interval of 0-12%. H. pylori load was not decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of vitamin C, in a 5 g/day dosage during 28 days is neither effective for H. pylori eradication nor quantitatively alters the bacteria load in the stomach of infected patients.
Kamiji
Mayra Mayumi
MM
Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP. maykamiji@hotmail.com
Oliveira
Ricardo Brandt de
RB
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001205:Ascorbic Acid