Natural fight against H. pylori

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gastric-persistent pathogen that can cause ulcers (a connection for which a Nobel prize was awarded in 2005), as well as cancers, and affects approximately half of the world population. Unfortunately, the H. pylori infection remains asymptomatic in most, and the main routes of transmission are mouth-to-mouth and fecal-to-mouth spread. Before you get grossed out though, there is also building evidence that it is also a commensal (from French meaning a table companion) bacteria and only seldom an opportunistic pathogen. While a typical treatment approach is via antibiotics, can we support the standard approach with lifestyle choices to ensure success against this potentially problematic bug?

It is after all one of the most commonly studied pathogens in the world, thus literature on the topic abounds. Looking into just a few published scientific reviews suggests that we certainly have great diet options available to us to help keep H. pylori subdued via reducing H. pylori colonization, helping the effect of antibiotics, and boosting the immune response in our favour. In addition, such foods could aid in ensuring that H. pylori infection does not occur in the first place. So let’s take a look at the available options.

Animal products

• Lactoferrin (in animal milk products) captures iron needed by the bacteria for growth and synergistic effects with antibiotics
• Aminoreductone (in animal milk products formed during heat treatment) for inhibition of bacterial growth

Vegetables

• Brassica vegetables (cauliflower, swede, headed cabbage, rape, radish) for their anti-cancer properties (including gastric cancer) attributed to isothiocyanates
• Broccoli (especially sprouts) has anti-bacterial activity of sulforaphane isothiocyanate
• A leafy green vegetable, Angelica keiskei, also known as ashitaba can suppress inflammation

Image by Wikimedia

Fruits

• Cranberry juice for the bacterial clearance effect and synergistic effects with antibiotics
• Berry extracts (blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, and bilberry) could inhibit bacterial growth
• Grapes for suppression of inflammation and inhibition of bacterial growth
• Apple peels for inhibition of bacterial growth

Herbs and spices

• Powder of Nigella sativa (also known as black cumin) seeds exhibit all antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities
• Curcumin not only could inhibit bacterial growth but even repair the gastric damage provoked by H. pylori, as well as suppresses inflammation
• Ginger could inhibit bacterial growth
• Garlic could inhibit bacterial growth
• Allium tuberosum, also known as Chinese chives for inhibition of bacterial growth
• Liquorice root could inhibit the binding between H. pylori and the stomach tissue and reduce the bacterial load
• Green tea could inhibit bacterial growth via catechins (especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate or EGCG)
• Decalepis hamiltonii, also known as swallow root, for inhibition of bacterial growth

Image by Sprayedout

Mushrooms

• Hericium erinaceus, also knows as lion’s mane mushroom, could inhibit bacterial growth
• Tremella mesenterica, is a jelly fungus called yellow brain could boost the immune system in favour of anti-H. pylori activity

Sweeteners

• Honeys (oak tree and manuka) for antibacterial activity (especially the propolis)

Oils

• Oils of plant origin (olive oil, blackcurrant seed, carrot seed, or grapefruit seed oils) for antibacterial activity
• Fish oil for antibacterial activity

Image by Staticflickr

Water

• Refined deep seawater, a mineral-rich healthy drinking water for humans, for inhibition of bacterial growth

Probiotics

• Certain probiotic strains for antibacterial activity and binding inhibition between H. pylori and the stomach tissue. For a list of probiotics rich foods, please see one of the previous blog entries dedicated to this topic.

Conclusion

As one of the science articles summarised, the above natural foods help against H. pylori infection and lead to protective processes such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidative support, chemoprevention and gastroprotection. These benefits are likely to provide support against many other pathogens as well besides H. pylori and are known to be safe for consumption for a long time. Whether it is practical to attain successful intervention with foods in the quantities that we would consume is another question but a healthy diverse diet at least can not hurt your chances. Also, keep in mind that this list likely represents only a portion of natural foods that could be listed as indicated by the investigated studies, each of which added new elements to the above overall list.

To extend your studies, please visit the articles used for the production of this content below (in chronological order of publication):

https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v20/i27/8971.htm

https://www.termedia.pl/Diet-and-Helicobacter-pylori-infection,41,28074,0,1.html

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1324473/full

This article has been produced by Merogenomics Inc. Reproduction and reuse of any portion of this content requires Merogenomics Inc. permission and source acknowledgment. It is your responsibility to obtain additional permissions from the third party owners that might be cited by Merogenomics Inc. Merogenomics Inc. disclaims any responsibility for any use you make of content owned by third parties without their permission.