Helicobacter. 2008 Apr;13(2):127-34.

Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori infection in humans by Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 and effect on eradication therapy: a pilot study.

Francavilla R, Lionetti E, Castellaneta SP, Magistà AM, Maurogiovanni G, Bucci N, De Canio A, Indrio F, Cavallo L, Ierardi E, Miniello VL. Department of Biomedicina dell'Età Evolutiva, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

BACKGROUND: Several studies report an inhibitory effect of probiotics on Helicobacter pylori. Aim: To test whether Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730 reduces H. pylori intragastric load in vivo, decreases dyspeptic symptoms, and affects eradication rates after conventional treatment.

MATERIALS AND 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.

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