To evaluate of the effect of adding licorice to the standard treatment regimen of Helicobacter pylori.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of licorice in H. pylori eradication in patients suffering from dyspepsia either with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) or non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) in comparison to the clarithromycin-based standard triple regimen.


METHODS
In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 120 patients who had positive rapid urease test were included and assigned to two treatment groups: control group that received a clarithromycin-based triple regimen, and study group that received licorice in addition to the clarithromycin-based regimen for two weeks. H. pylori eradication was assessed six weeks after therapy. Data was analyzed by chi-square and t-test with SPSS 16 software.


RESULTS
Mean ages and SD were 38.8±10.9 and 40.1±10.4 for the study and control groups, respectively, statistically similar. Peptic ulcer was found in 30% of both groups. Response to treatment was 83.3% and 62.5% in the study and control groups, respectively. This difference was statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Addition of licorice to the triple clarithromycin-based regimen increases H. pylori eradication, especially in the presence of peptic ulcer disease.
Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Velayat Clinical Research Development Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Qazvin, Iran.
Ali Akbar
AA
Hajiaghamohammadi
Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Velayat Clinical Research Development Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Qazvin, Iran.
Ali
A
Zargar
Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Qazvin, Iran.
Sonia
S
Oveisi
Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Velayat Clinical Research Development Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Qazvin, Iran.
Rasoul
R
Samimi
Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Velayat Clinical Research Development Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Qazvin, Iran. Electronic address: SRMDFM@gmail.com.
Sedigheh
S
Reisian
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017291:Clarithromycin
Dyspepsia; Helicobacter pylori; Licorice; Peptic ulcer