Research Review: H.Pylori Treatment

Glycyrrhiza glabra and lactobacillus paracasei for H. Pylori Infection

Citation: Yoon, J. Y., Cha, J. M., Hong, S. S., Kim, H. K., Kwak, M. S., Jeon, J. W., & Shin, H. P. (2019). Fermented milk containing Lactobacillus paracasei and Glycyrrhiza glabra has a beneficial effect in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine, 98(35), e16601.

Updating the Research

This trial addressed the issue of whether a combination of licorice and lactobacillus paracasei taken over an 8 week period could improve biomarkers, symptoms, and quality of life in H. Pylori infected subjects.  The assignment of 142 subjects to treatments was both randomized and double blind. The groups were statistically similar at baseline—all with confirmed H.Pylori infection.  Further, all subjects who entered the trial were properly accounted for, with 14 drop outs in total (8 from the intervention group; 6 from the placebo group).  

The product used in this study consisted of one bottle (150mL) of fermented milk/day, taken in the morning.  The fermented milk product contained: 1) 1.0 X 10^6 CFU/mL L. paracasei HP7 KCTC 13143BP; and 2) 100mg of licorice extracted from deglycyrrhizinated roots and rhizomes of G. glabra (Yoon et al., 2019, p. 2).  Unfortunately, there is no mention of the herb-to-extract ratio used in this study. 

There was a 2.4% improvement (p=.035) in the intervention group.  Secondary outcomes of inflammation (p=.013), GI symptoms (p=.049,) and quality of life (p=.029) were also all significantly improved in the treatment group.  By contrast, the placebo group saw significant, negative changes in inflammation over the same time period (p=.003).  However, there was only significant interval change in the intra-group analysis, but not in the intergroup analysis. The authors theorize that this may be related to the relatively small dosage used and/or the short study duration.  

There were only mild adverse events, experienced in both the treatment (n=5) and placebo (n=6) groups over the course of the study.  These primarily included GI and dermatological symptoms.  While the results are promising, it is important to note that the study was sponsored by the company that makes Yakult—the fermented milk drink used in the study.  

Reference:

Yoon, J. Y., Cha, J. M., Hong, S. S., Kim, H. K., Kwak, M. S., Jeon, J. W., & Shin, H. P. (2019). Fermented milk containing Lactobacillus paracasei and Glycyrrhiza glabra has a beneficial effect in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine, 98(35), e16601.