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A Pilot Study to Determine the Effectiveness of Garlic Oil Capsules in the Treatment of Dyspeptic Patients with Helicobacter pylori
Author(s) -
McNulty Cliodna A.M.,
Wilson Melanie P.,
Havinga Wouter,
Johnston Belinda,
O'Gara Elizabeth A.,
Maslin David J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
helicobacter
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1523-5378
pISSN - 1083-4389
DOI - 10.1046/j.1523-5378.2001.00036.x
Subject(s) - helicobacter pylori , clarithromycin , medicine , metronidazole , proton pump inhibitor , gastroenterology , urea breath test , antibiotics , breath test , meal , pharmacology , helicobacter pylori infection , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Background. Resistance of Helicobacter pylori to clarithromycin and metronidazole is now found worldwide. Steam‐distilled garlic oil has in vitro activity against H. pylori and may be a useful alternative treatment strategy. Materials and methods. In this pilot study dyspeptic patients with positive serology for H. pylori confirmed by 13 C urea breath test (UBT), at 0 and 2 weeks, were enrolled. Treatment consisted of one 4 mg garlic oil capsule with a meal four times per day for 14 days. H. pylori eradication was defined as a negative UBT at both follow‐up appointments. Suppression was defined as a 50% fall in 13 C excess between baseline and follow‐up 1. Results. Five patients completed the study. There was no evidence of either eradication or suppression of H. pylori or symptom improvement whilst taking garlic oil. Conclusion. These negative results show that, within the gastric milieu, garlic oil at this dose does not inhibit H. pylori . A higher dose administered for a longer time‐period may be effective. Antibiotics are usually combined with a proton‐pump inhibitor or bismuth salt, as the only antibiotic with any in vivo activity against H. pylori in monotherapy is clarithromycin. A proton pump inhibitor raises gastric pH and, by increasing bacterial division, may increase the in vivo activity of garlic oil. This may be worth pursuing in a future trial.