| Scientist - News - 30-06-2008: Lactobacillus strain has some potential to eradicate stomach infection Beintema, Nienke A recent study found Lactobacillus johnsonii (La1) to be beneficial against stomach infections with the virulent bacterium Helicobacter pylori in children. Conventional antibiotics treatment, however, is still far more effective. Lactobacilli are probiotic micro-organisms that naturally occur in a healthy oral, intestinal and urogenital flora. Numerous studies have shown that oral intake of certain Lactobacillus strains can prevent and cure urogenital and intestinal infections – particularly those which involve the pathogenic Escherichia coli. Researchers at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (University of Chile, Santiago de Chile) have now shown another application of a member of the Lactobacillus group. They found that Lactobacillus johnsonii (La1) has the ability to cure Helicobacter pylori infections in a small percentage of children investigated. Their results were published in the journal Nutrition on June 19. H. pylori is the only bacterium known to be able to survive the acidic environment of the stomach. Infections with this pathogenic may result in ulcers, gastritis, and even stomach cancer. The Chilean researchers investigated 271 children who were infected with H. pylori. Interestingly enough, they studied the effect of La1 in conjunction with that of cranberry juice – another product that has been reported to ease bacterial infections both in the urogenital and intestinal tracts. The researchers compared a control group versus three placebo-controlled experimental groups: one that received cranberry juice, one that received the probiotic, and one that received both. After three weeks of daily treatment, the H. pylori eradication in the three experimental groups differed significantly from that in the control group: in the control group, the eradication rate was only 1.5 percent compared to 14.9 percent in the group given the probiotic, 16.9 percent in the group given the cranberry juice, and 22.9 percent in the group given both. While the combined approach did produce higher levels of eradication, the paper concludes that the difference was not statistically significant in comparison to intake of only cranberry juice or the probiotic. "These results sound interesting, but clinically they are hardly relevant," reacts dr. René van der Hulst, gastro-enterologist at Kennemer Hospital in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Van der Hulst has published numerous scientific articles on H. pylori infections. "Conventional treatment with a combination of antibiotics yields an eradication rate of around 90 percent. Nothing can top that." Van der Hulst doubts whether probiotic treatment could be a useful supplement to this conventional therapy: "In studies, there is always a certain bias with respect to compliance to therapy. And it is difficult to understand that there is a spontaneous eradication of H. pylori in the control group. In addition it may be a challenge to achieve H. pylori eradication rates up to 100 percent." More information: Article in Nutrition «Back |