title: Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori infection in humans by Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 and effect on eradication therapy: a pilot study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicina dell'Età Evolutiva, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy. rfrancavilla@libero.it
authors.forename: Ruggiero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Francavilla
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lionetti
authors.forename: Stefania Paola
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Castellaneta
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Magistà
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maurogiovanni
authors.forename: Nunzia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Canio
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Indrio
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavallo
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ierardi
authors.forename: Vito Leonardo
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Miniello
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D014508:Urea