Helicobacter pylori vitamins, herbs, supplements, diet and food, natural and alternative treatment for the infection
April 23 2018 by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

During the past several decades the role of Helicobacter pylori infection has been a topic of intensive research. H. pylori infection can cause acute and chronic gastritis, duodenitis, gastric peptic ulcers and duodenal ulcers. H. pylori has been identified as a risk factor for gastric cancer. Nearly more than 90% of patients with duodenal ulcers, more than 70% of those with gastric ulcer and more than 80% patients with gastric cancer have H. pylori infection.

Natural treatment for Helicobacter pylori, do supplements work?
Non-antibiotic therapies, including herbs, probiotics, food extracts, and antioxidants have been investigated as potential alternatives for the treatment of H. pylori.

Probiotics supplements can be purchased online
Helicobacter pylori eradication: Sequential therapy and Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation; World Journal of Gastroenterology 2012)
To evaluate the role of sequential therapy and Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation, in the eradication treatment of Helicobacter pylori. Patients were assigned to receive one of the following therapies: (1) 7-d triple therapy (PPI plus clarithromycin and amoxicillin or metronidazole) plus L. reuteri supplementation during antibiotic treatment; (2) 7-d triple therapy plus L. reuteri supplementation after antibiotic treatment; (3) sequential regimen (5-d PPI plus amoxicillin therapy followed by a 5-d PPI, clarithromycin and tinidazole) plus L. reuteri supplementation during antibiotic treatment; and (4) sequential regimen plus L. reuteri supplementation after antibiotic treatment. The sequential treatment regimen achieved a significantly higher eradication rate of H. pylori compared with standard 7-d regimen. L. reuteri supplementation could reduce the frequency and the intensity of antibiotic-associated side-effects.

J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2013. Clinical appliance of probiotics in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection-A brief review. Probiotic combinations can reduce adverse effects induced by H. pylori eradication treatment and, thus, have beneficial effects in H. pylori-infected individuals. Long-term intakes of products containing probiotic strains may have a favorable effect on H. pylori infection in humans, particularly by reducing the risk of developing disorders associated with high degrees of gastric inflammation.

Broccoli sprouts that contain sulforaphane may improve this condition

Baby broccoli sprouts are able to reduce symptoms from Helicobacter pylori linked to gastritis, ulcers and even stomach cancer. Fresh broccoli sprouts have a much higher concentration of sulforaphane, a natural sulfur compound-than mature broccoli. Sulforaphane is thought to trigger the production of protective enzymes in the stomach. Researchers divided 48 volunteers infected with Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria known to cause gastritis and ulcers and implicated in cancer, into two groups. One group ate about 2.5 ounces of broccoli sprouts daily, while a control group got alfalfa sprouts, which don't contain sulforaphane. After two months, the broccoli-sprouts group showed lower levels of the bacteria. The investigators say, "We identified a food that, if eaten regularly, might potentially have an effect on the cause of a lot of gastric problems and even ultimately help prevent stomach cancer." Cancer Prevention Research.
   Comments: I don't know whether taking a broccoli sprout extract that has sulforaphane would also be helpful in reducing symptoms from this infection.

Garlic consumption could be helpful. This spice has antibacterial and antigerm activity. Nutr Cancer. 1997; Helicobacter pylori--in vitro susceptibility to garlic (Allium sativum) extract. Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
Consider the use of essential oils.
Another option is the use of mastic.

I will update this page as more information is published on the natural or alternative treatment of H. Pylori infections.

Pharm Biol. 2016. In vitro synergistic effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa aqueous extract in combination with standard antibiotics against Helicobacter pylori clinical isolates. The increasing problem of drug-resistant strains has led to the failure of current treatment regimens of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. Recently, a new treatment strategy has been developed to overcome the problem by using natural products in combination with antibiotics to enhance the treatment efficacy. Objective The antimicrobial combinatory effect of the aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) (AEHS) with antibiotics (clarithromycin, CLA; amoxicillin, AMX; metronidazole, MTZ) has been evaluated in vitro against HP strains. This study presents AEHS as a potent therapeutic candidate alone, or in combination with antibiotics for the treatment of HP infection.

Symptoms
The most common symptom of helicobacter pylori infection is indigestion. However, having the Helicobacter pylori bacterium doesn't necessarily mean you will have indigestion, and having indigestion due to too much acid doesn't necessarily mean you have the Helicobacter pylori bacteria. In most people, helicobacter pylori infection causes no symptoms. Those who do have a symptom from Helicobacter pylori may experience indigestion, abdominal pain, nausea, bloating and burping. However, just because you have these symptoms does not mean you have the Helicobacter pylori bacterium infection since these symptoms can be caused by a number of medical conditions.
 

Eradication of gastric H. pylori significantly alleviates halitosis and coated tongue, the two oral conditions that may be considered as extragastric manifestations of this common chronic bacterial infection.

Diagnosis
Several methods can be used to diagnose H. pylori: invasive methods such as endoscopy and non-invasive methods such as urea-breath-test, detection of antigens in stool, detection of specific antibodies in patients sera by means of serological tests--ELISA and Immunblott, molecular tests PCR and fluorescence-in situ- hybridisation.

Treatment
Despite years of experience with Helicobacter pylori treatment, the ideal regimen for treating the infection is still being evaluated. The most effective eradication treatment is the combination of a proton pump inhibitor PPI with antibiotics, but 10-20% of the patients fail to obtain eradication of the infection. Antibiotic resistance is a major factor affecting the outcome of treatment.
     Smoking increases the treatment failure rate for H. pylori eradication.

Perm J. 2016. Onset of Ulcerative Colitis after Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy: A Case Report. Helicobacter pylori eradication has been approved since 2013 for treatment of H pylori-induced chronic gastritis, in an attempt to reduce the prevalence of gastric cancer, a leading cancer in Japan. H pylori infection affects more than 50% of the world's population. H pylori eradication therapy is generally safe. To our knowledge, no case of newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis occurring immediately after H pylori eradication therapy has previously been reported. A 63-year-old man received a diagnosis of chronic gastritis and H pylori infection. In early March 2014, primary H pylori eradication therapy was initiated; lansoprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin were administered for 1 week. Beginning on the fourth day, he had watery diarrhea twice a day. From the 11th day, bloody stools and watery diarrhea increased to 6 times a day. Colonoscopy, performed on the 40th day after termination of drug therapy, revealed diffuse inflammation in the distal aspect of the colon, with histologic findings consistent with ulcerative colitis.

Helicobacter Pylori and Cancer
Many epidemiological reports indicate that Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection plays an important role in gastric cancer formation. H pylori is known to induce chronic inflammation in the gastric mucosa. Its products, including superoxides, participate in the DNA damage followed by initiation, and the inflammation-derived cytokines and growth factors contribute to the promotion of gastric carcinogenesis. By eradicating H pylori, gastric inflammation can be cured; the therapy diminishes the levels not only of inflammatory cell infiltration, but also atrophy/intestinal metaplasia in part.

Eradicating Helicobacter pylori bacteria with a short course of antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors reduces the risk of gastric cancer in otherwise healthy and asymptomatic H. pylori–positive adults.

Gut Microbes. 2013 Nov 1. Diet, microbial virulence, and Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric cancer. Gastric adenocarcinoma is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the strongest known risk factors for this malignancy. H. pylori strains exhibit a high level of genetic diversity, and the risk of gastric cancer is higher in persons carrying certain strain types (for example, those that contain a cag pathogenicity island or type s1 vacA alleles) than in persons carrying other strain types.

Skin health and diseases
J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 2017. Possible role of Helicobacter pylori in diseases of dermatological interest. Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative, flagellate, microaerophilic bacterium identified for the first time about 30 years ago, as a pathogenic factor of gastritis and peptic ulcer. Soon after, it was linked to several gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal diseases (hematological, cardiovascular, neurological, pulmonary and ocular diseases, obesity, diabetes mellitus, growth retardation and extragastric MALT lymphoma). Association and possible cause-effect correlation with H. pylori infection were suggested in diseases of dermatological interest such as chronic urticaria, rosacea, Henoch-Schoenleins purpura, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, cutaneous and oral lichen planus, atopic dermatitis, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, systemic sclerosis, psoriasis, Sjögrens syndrome, Behçet's disease, pruritus, alopecia areata, primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphomas, vitiligo, chronic prurigo, multiformis, prurigo nodularis, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, prurigo pigmentosa, eczema nummulare, primary cutaneous MALT-type lymphoma, sublamina densa-type linear IgA bullous dermatosis, Sweet's syndrome, cutaneous T-cell pseudolymphoma and pemphigus vulgaris. A critical review of the literature shows evidence of H. pylori involvement only for some of the above associations, while in the majority of cases data appear contrasting and/or obtained on a not adequately large study population.

Vascular Disease, heart rhythm problems

Infection by Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria associated with peptic ulcers and gastric cancer, also appears to increase the risk of diseases of the circulation, also referred to as "vascular disease." H. Pylori infection of the stomach may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation.
 

Q. I have visited your website many times for valuable information which no other place has. I have learned thru you that taking CoQ10 may cause insomnia in sensitive individuals ( me). Thank you after months of insomnia and no idea why. Just recently I found another area in your site regarding heart arrhythmias. As I read it I had tears come to my eyes. You see I developed PSVT 2 years ago for unknown reasons. As I read your information on the correlation of H. Pylori and heart arrhythmias I finally found the answer that no doctor has been able to give me. I had H. pylori 2 years ago and it took 3 rounds of mega antibiotics to rid my body of it. This is the exact same time I developed the arrhythmia, unfortunately it was passed off as anxiety til a caring physician finally did testing and determined it was SVT. But no one could tell me why this happened to a perfectly healthy woman of 47 years. My next question is what plan would you follow to help alleviate the arrhythmia ( I am on low dose of atenolol but it controls the heart rate- still have chest pain at times) and of course the anxiety that goes with SVT attacks. If you have any suggestions or informative sites that I could research with my physician for answers I would be eternally grateful. I am struggling to deal with problem both physically and emotionally. Thank you for all you do.
   A. See heart palpitations for information on natural supplements that may be helpful.

Q. In an article that the Dr. posted, it said that there are people that had A fib that also had h pylori and the h pylori "attacked" heart pumps similar to the acid pumps in the stomach. I am very interested in this topic as I have had both. Is there a follow-up on this once people rid themselves of the h pylori if the heart pumps heal themselves? Full disclosure. I am not seeking medical advice. I would love to see the study and see if there is any follow-up. I personally have gotten much better the longer my h pylori has been gone and am now debating on weaning off propafenone.
   A. I have not seen any such follow ups but will keep my eyes open for any new research on this topic.

Autoimmune diseases
World J Gastroenterol. 2014. Helicobacter pylori and autoimmune disease: cause or bystander. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the main cause of chronic gastritis and a major risk factor for gastric cancer. This pathogen has also been considered a potential trigger of gastric autoimmunity, and in particular of autoimmune gastritis. However, a considerable number of reports have attempted to link H. pylori infection with the development of extra-gastrointestinal autoimmune disorders, affecting organs not immediately relevant to the stomach. This review discusses the current evidence in support or against the role of H. pylori as a potential trigger of autoimmune rheumatic and skin diseases, as well as organ specific autoimmune diseases. We discuss epidemiological, serological, immunological and experimental evidence associating this pathogen with autoimmune diseases. Although over one hundred autoimmune diseases have been investigated in relation to H. pylori, we discuss a select number of papers with a larger literature base, and include Sjögrens syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitides, autoimmune skin conditions, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica and autoimmune liver diseases.

Transmission from mother to child
 Mother-to-child transmission appears to be the most common route of Helicobacter pylori infection in Japan. In The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, Dr. Mutsuko Konno and colleagues at Sapporo Kosei General Hospital in Sapporo note that previous studies have suggested that children are at high risk for H. pylori acquisition and that their mothers are the likely sources. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, November 2008.

Helicobacter Pylori natural treatment questions
Q. Do you think eating a lot of sugar or fructose can make helicobacter pylori infection worse?
     A. It's a good question. I don't know. It has been reported that berries could be helpful.

Q. Are there supplements that suppress H pylori symptoms?
     A. I have not seen any good human trials yet, but in the laboratory several herbs have show anti- helicobacter pylori activity. These supplements are green tea extract, bacopa, cranberry, probiotics, and bilberry.