Favourable effect of an acidified milk (LC-1) on Helicobacter pylori gastritis in man

Objective The supernatant of Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 culture was shown to be bactericidal and to have a partial, acid-independent suppressive effe ct on Helicobacter pylori in humans. The aim of the present study was to in vestigate the effect of L. johnsonii La1-acidified milk (LC-1) on H. pylori infection, Design and methods Fifty-three volunteers infected with H. pylori as determ ined by positive C-13-urea breath test and positive serology were randomize d to receive either LC-1 or a placebo 180 mi twice a day for 3 weeks. All s ubjects also received clarithromycin 500 mg bid during the last two weeks o f acidified milk therapy. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and biopsies were per formed at inclusion and repeated 4-8 weeks after the end of the treatment, H. pylori infection was confirmed by urease test and histology, H. pylori d ensity and inflammation were scored using a modified Sydney classification. Results LC-1 ingestion induced a decrease in H. pylori density in the antru m (P = 0.02) and the corpus (P = 0.04). LC-1 also reduced inflammation and gastritis activity in the antrum (P = 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively) and of activity in the corpus (P = 0.02), Clarithromycin eradicated H. pylori i n 26% of the subjects; LC-I did not improve the antibiotic effect. Conclusion These results suggest that H. pylori infection and gastritis can be down-regulated by LC-I. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 13:25-29 (C) 2001 L ippincott Williams & Wilkins.