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Probiotics‐Containing Yogurts Suppress Helicobacter pylori Load and Modify Immune Response and Intestinal Microbiota in the Helicobacter pylori ‐Infected Children
Author(s) -
Yang YaoJong,
Sheu BorShyang
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
helicobacter
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1523-5378
pISSN - 1083-4389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-5378.2012.00941.x
Subject(s) - bifidobacterium , helicobacter pylori , ingestion , feces , immune system , lactobacillus , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , pepsin , biology , immunology , gastroenterology , food science , fermentation , biochemistry , enzyme
Background: The benefits of probiotics to the pediatric Helicobacter pylori infection remain uncertain. We tested whether the H. pylori ‐infected children have an altered gut microflora, and whether probiotics‐containing yogurt can restore such change and improve their H. pylori ‐related immune cascades. Methods: We prospectively included 38 children with H. pylori infection confirmed by a positive 13 C‐urea breath test (UBT) and 38 age‐ and sex‐matched noninfected controls. All of them have provided the serum and stool samples before and after 4‐week ingestion of probiotics‐containing yogurt. The serum samples were tested for the TNF‐α, IL‐10, IL‐6, immunoglobulin (Ig) A, G, E, pepsinogens I and II levels. The stool samples were tested for the colony counts of Bifidobacterium spp. and Escherichia coli . The follow‐up UBT indirectly assessed the H. pylori loads after yogurt usage. Results: The H. pylori ‐infected children had lower fecal Bifidobacterium spp. count ( p = .009), Bifidobacterium spp./ E. coli ratio ( p = .04), serum IgA titer ( p = .04), and pepsinogens I/II ratio ( p < .001) than in controls. In the H. pylori‐ infected children, 4‐week yogurt ingestion reduced the IL‐6 level ( p < .01) and H. pylori loads ( p = .046), but elevated the serum IgA and pepsinogen II levels ( p < .001). Moreover, yogurt ingestion can improve the childhood fecal Bifidobacterium spp./ E. coli ratio ( p = .03). Conclusions: The H. pylori ‐infected children have a lower Bifidobacterium microflora in gut. The probiotics‐containing yogurt can offer benefits to restore Bifidobacterium spp./ E. coli ratio in children and suppress the H. pylori load with increment of serum IgA but with reduction in IL‐6 in H. pylori ‐infected children.