Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori infection in humans by Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 and effect on eradication therapy: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Several studies report an inhibitory effect of probiotics on Helicobacter pylori.


OBJECTIVE
To test whether Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 reduces H. pylori intragastric load in vivo, decreases dyspeptic symptoms, and affects eradication rates after conventional treatment.


METHODS
In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, 40 H. pylori-positive subjects were given L. reuteri once a day for 4 weeks or placebo. All underwent upper endoscopy, (13)C-urea breath test, and H. pylori stool antigen determination at entry and (13)C-urea breath test and H. pylori stool antigen (used as both qualitative and semiquantitative markers) after 4 weeks of treatment. Sequential treatment was administered subsequently to all.


RESULTS
In vivo, L. reuteri reduces H. pylori load as semiquantitatively assessed by both (13)C-urea breath test delta-value and H. pylori stool antigen quantification after 4 weeks of treatment (p < .05). No change was shown in patients receiving placebo. L. reuteri administration was followed by a significant decrease in the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale as compared to pretreatment value (p < .05) that was not present in those receiving placebo (p = not significant). No difference in eradication rates was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
L. reuteri effectively suppresses H. pylori infection in humans and decreases the occurrence of dyspeptic symptoms. Nevertheless, it does not seem to affect antibiotic therapy outcome.
Francavilla
Ruggiero
R
Department of Biomedicina dell'Età Evolutiva, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy. rfrancavilla@libero.it
Lionetti
Elena
E
Castellaneta
Stefania Paola
SP
Magistà
Anna Maria
AM
Maurogiovanni
Giovanni
G
Bucci
Nunzia
N
De Canio
Angela
A
Indrio
Flavia
F
Cavallo
Luciano
L
Ierardi
Enzo
E
Miniello
Vito Leonardo
VL
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D052200:Limosilactobacillus reuteri / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014508:Urea / Q000032:analysis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D014508:Urea