Broccoli Sprouts May Prevent Stomach Cancer By Defeating Helicobacter Pylori

Three-day-old broccoli sprouts, a widely available human food, suppressed Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections, according to a report in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. H. pylori infections are one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide and are a major cause of stomach cancer.

The cancer protective effects of sulforaphane, a phytochemical from broccoli, have been known for almost two decades, but this is the first study to show an effect of broccoli in humans on the bacterial infection that leads to stomach cancer. In this study, researchers enrolled 48 Helicobacter-infected Japanese men and women and randomly assigned them to eat 70 grams of fresh broccoli sprouts daily for eight weeks or an equivalent amount of alfalfa sprouts.

"Broccoli has recently entered the public awareness as a preventive dietary agent. This study supports the emerging evidence that broccoli sprouts may be able to prevent cancer in humans, not just in lab animals," said Jed Fahey, Sc.D., a faculty research associate in the Department of Pharmacology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Researchers assessed the severity of H. pylori infection at enrollment, and again at four and eight weeks using standard breath, serum and stool tests. H. pylori levels were significantly lower at eight weeks on all three measures among those patients who had eaten broccoli sprouts, while they remained the same for patients who had eaten alfalfa sprouts.

A reduction in H. pylori is expected to lead to a reduction in stomach cancer due to their well-established cause-and-effect link. Stomach cancer has a grim prognosis and is the second most common and the second deadliest cancer worldwide.

Stomach bug treatment for cancer

H. pylori is commonly known as the main cause of stomach ulcers

Eradicating a common bug in people with stomach cancer can prevent the disease from recurring, research suggests.

Helicobacter pylori, proved to be the cause of most stomach ulcers, has also been linked with stomach cancer.

In a study of 550 people who had stomach cancer surgery, antibiotics which killed the bug cut the risk of a second cancer developing by two-thirds.

There will now be a trial of 56,000 British people to see if killing the bacterium stops the cancer developing.

H. pylori lives in the stomach, and accounts for up to 90% of duodenal ulcers and up to 80% of gastric ulcers.

Preventing gastric cancer by eradicating H. pylori in high-risk regions should be a priority Dr Nicholas Talley

It was famously linked with stomach ulcers by two Australian researchers - one of whom deliberately infected himself to prove the theory - who were awarded the Nobel prize for their discovery in 2005.

The World Health Organisation also classes the bacterium as a leading cause of stomach cancer.

Prevention

Previous trials on eradicating H. pylori as a method of preventing further stomach cancers in patients who have undergone surgery have been conflicting.

But the latest study, done in Japan, found that the strategy could be very useful.

Patients with early stomach cancer underwent a procedure to remove the cancerous cells and surrounding tissue.

Half of them were then treated with a course of drugs designed to eradicate H. pylori - lansoprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin - and half received dummy pills and were then examined at six, 12, 24 and 36 months to see if the cancer had reappeared in a different site.

After three years, a second stomach cancer had developed in nine patients in the eradication group compared with 24 in the control group.

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Definition

Definition of Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a spiral bacteria that specifically and selectively resides beneath the mucus layer next to the stomach (gastric cells).

Description of Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter pylori infection has been associated with the occurrence of gastritis and peptic ulcers. Chronic H. pylori gastritis is a strong risk factor for stomach cancer. However, less than one percent of chronically infected individuals will develop stomach cancer.

In the past, one of the strongly held notions is that acid is the primary cause of duodenal ulcers. Indeed, the term acid peptic disease reflects the prevailing concept of cause, so therapy is aimed primarily at blocking acid.

However, it now appears that an even more important factor may be responsible for some ulcers (at least duodenal ulcers) - infestation with Helicobacter pylori.

Two important lines of evidence now support a possible causal role. First, H. pylori is present in the antrums of 9 to 95 percent of persons with a duodenal ulcer who do not use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or do not have Zollinger-Ellison syndrome as a possible cause of ulcer.

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Causes and Symtoms.

It is believed that H. pylori's shape and characteristics cause the damage that leads to ulcers.

Because of their shape and the way they move, the bacteria can penetrate the stomach's protective mucous lining where they produce the enzyme urease, which generates substances that neutralize the stomach's acids. This weakens the stomach's protective mucus, makes the stomach cells more susceptible to the damaging effects of acid and pepsin, and leads to sores or ulcers in the stomach or duodenum.

The bacteria can also attach to stomach cells, further weakening the stomach's defensive mechanisms and producing local inflammation. For reasons not completely understood, H. pylori can also stimulate the stomach to produce more acid.

What are the symptoms of H. pylori-related ulcers?
The following are the most common symptoms for ulcers, however, each individual may experience symptoms differently.

Soon after being infected with H. pylori, most people develop gastritis -- an inflammation of the stomach lining. However, most people will never have symptoms or problems related to the infection. When symptoms are present, they may include:

• dull, gnawing pain, which may:
  • occur 2-3 hours after a meal
  • come and go for several days or weeks
  • occur in the middle of the night when stomach is empty
  • be relieved by eating
• loss of weight
• loss of appetite
• bloating
• burping
• nausea
• vomiting

The symptoms of ulcers may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult your physician for a diagnosis.

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Treatment.

Patients with a history of peptic ulcer disease, active gastric ulcer, or active duodenal ulcer associated with H. pylori infection should receive treatment for the infection. Successful treatment of H. pylori can lead to one or more of the following:

• A higher rate of ulcer healing
• A lower risk of recurrent ulcers
• A reduced risk of complications such as bleeding

Medications — No single drug effectively cures H. pylori infection. Treatment involves taking several medications for 7 to 14 days.

• Most of the treatment regimens include a medication called a proton pump inhibitor. This medication decreases the stomach's production of acid, which allows the tissues damaged by the infection to heal. Examples of proton pump inhibitors include lansoprazole (Prevacid®) (Prilosec®) (AcipHex®) and (Nexium®).

• Two antibiotics are generally recommended; this reduces the risk of treatment failure and antibiotic resistance.

Side effects — Up to 50 percent of patients have side effects of H. pylori treatment. Side effects are usually mild, and fewer than 10 percent of patients stop treatment because of side effects. For those who do experience side effects, it may be possible to make adjustments in the dose or timing of medication. Some of the most common side effects are described below.

• Alcoholic beverages (eg, beer, wine) should be avoided while taking metronidazole; the combination can cause skin flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, sweating and a rapid heart rate.

• Bismuth, which is contained in some of the regimens, causes the stool to become black and may cause constipation.

• Many of the regimens cause diarrhea and stomach cramps.

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