Supplements to enhance H pylori treatment

An article by Donald Brown in the July 2012 issue of the Natural Medicine Journal discusses a number of supplements that can enhance and optimize H pylori treatment.  H pylori is a bacteria that is commonly found in the stomach and can contribute to the development of peptic ulcers and chronic inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis).  The standard medical treatment for H pylori is the short term combination of 2 antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor.  There is research that has found taking vitamin C and vitamin E (both of which offer anti-oxidant/immune strengthening support) along with these H pylori medications improves the body's ability to clear H pylori infection.  There has also been research that has found that taking probiotics along with these H pylori medications improves the body's ability to manage these medications with less side effects.  There has also been research that has found taking NAC (which disrupts the protective film that H pylori creates to stabilize itself in the stomach) prior to integrating these H pylori medications also improves the body's ability to clear H pylori infection.  As well, research has also found that integrating cranberry juice (which prevents the adherence of H pylori to the stomach lining) both with and for 2 weeks post these H pylori medications also improves women's ability to clear H pylori infection.  Each of these sups are relatively easy to integrate for a short period of time and worth considering alongside H pylori medical treatment.