The Journal of Nutrition; 2007; 137,3S Research Library Core pg 812S-818s

H. pylori infection, a highly prevalent pathogen, is a major cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer and a risk factor for gastric malignancies. Antibiotics-based H. pylori eradication treatment is 90% effective. Probiotics had an in vitro inhibitory effect on H. pylori. Seven of 9 human studies showed an improvement of H. pylori gastritis and decrease in H. pylori density after administration of probiotics. A probiotic is defined as a living microbial species that on administration may have a positive effect on bowel microecology and improve health conditions. At present, the most studied probiotics are lactic acid producing bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus species. Probiotics have been proven to be useful in the treatment of several gastrointestinal diseases such as acute infectious diarrhea. The production of relatively large amounts of lactate by lactobacilli has been implicated as an inhibitory factor of H. pylori. A decrease in specific IgG antibodies to H. pylori infection, following probiotic intake, parallel to a reduction in gastric inflammation was observed in several animal studies. Finally probiotic intake has been shown to strengthen the mucosal barrier by stimulating local IgA responses, thus leading to a mucosa-stabilizing effect. The administration of probiotics alone does not lead to the eradication of H. pylori. It has been suggested that coadministration of probiotics with antibiotic treatment improves H. pylori eradication rates. (Click here to view/order article at Pubmed)