Probiotics, honey, and garlic help kill Helicobacter pylori

Previous surveys show that the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Taiwan is quite high, ranging from approximately 50% to 55%. This translates to at least 10 million people in Taiwan carrying this microorganism. Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that is resistant to stomach acid. Long-term infection can cause chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and even increase the risk of stomach cancer.

If you're interested in determining whether you're infected with Helicobacter pylori, there are currently a number of testing options available. Previously, this column covered various methods, including gastroscopy and carbon-13 breath testing, as effective diagnostics for Helicobacter pylori. Interested readers can refer to the relevant article for a more in-depth understanding of the characteristics and appropriate scenarios of these testing methods.

Once infection is confirmed and gastric lesions have developed, formal medical treatment is usually necessary. The current mainstream treatment is the so-called "three-in-one therapy," which typically lasts about three weeks and combines a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), clarithromycin, and amoxicillin. Metronidazole is sometimes substituted for amoxicillin. However, with the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance, other alternative therapies have been developed. These include the "two-in-one therapy," which primarily combines a high-dose PPI with amoxicillin, and the "quadruple-in-one therapy," which includes a PPI, bismuth, tetracycline, and metronidazole, offering more treatment options.

As for some natural remedies that are popular on the Internet or in the community, such as drinking honey, eating garlic, broccoli, and even supplementingProbiotics, can it really effectively fight Helicobacter pylori? The following explains and analyzes these common claims.

First, consider honey. Honey, due to its thick texture and high osmotic pressure, does inhibit the growth of some bacteria, as the hyperosmotic environment causes bacteria to lose water and die. However, this does not mean that honey itself can kill Helicobacter pylori. Furthermore, once honey enters the stomach, it is rapidly diluted by gastric acid, rendering its concentration insufficient to produce any effective bactericidal effect. Therefore, even large quantities of pure honey will not effectively eliminate Helicobacter pylori.

Next up is garlic. Garlic contains a compound called allicin, which has significant antibacterial properties and is believed to have cardiovascular health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol, inhibiting platelet aggregation, protecting the liver, and regulating blood pressure. While some claim that eating raw garlic can enhance its antibacterial effects, the actual amount of garlic consumed in a daily diet is limited, and the concentration of allicin it contains is not sufficient to be fatal to Helicobacter pylori. Furthermore, garlic itself is irritating to the stomach, and excessive consumption can damage the gastric mucosa and even affect liver function, so caution is advised.

Now let's talk about broccoli. Studies have shown that the sulforaphane found in broccoli has some effectiveness in inhibiting Helicobacter pylori, even clearing the bacteria from the folds of the stomach wall in mouse studies. However, these studies are currently limited to animal studies, and no human clinical trials have confirmed the same effect. Therefore, while consuming broccoli may be beneficial for health, the expectation that it can kill Helicobacter pylori is likely more of a psychological benefit than a practical one, and its actual effectiveness remains to be determined.

Finally, probiotics. According to several clinical studies after 2000, when taking the traditional three-in-one therapy to treat Helicobacter pylori, if you also takeLactic acid bacteriaProbiotics such as probiotics can not only increase cure rates by approximately 5% to 10%, but also reduce side effects during treatment. However, this does not mean that probiotics alone can kill Helicobacter pylori. To date, no studies have confirmed that probiotics alone, without other medications, can effectively eradicate this bacterium. Therefore, the role of probiotics is more of a supporting role, potentially helping to inhibit bacterial growth, but they are by no means a panacea.

Based on the above information, we can understand that even with the currently recognized three-in-one or four-in-one treatments, the success rate for eradicating Helicobacter pylori is only approximately 80% to 90%. Therefore, the public should not readily believe that certain foods or folk remedies alone can completely eliminate Helicobacter pylori. If you suspect you may be infected, it is recommended that you seek professional medical evaluation and choose scientific and effective treatment to ensure your health.