OBJECTIVE: To determine whether mastic gum suppresses or eradicates Helicobacter pylori infection in humans. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients with H. pylori infection, and without gastroduodenal ulceration, were recruited from day-case endoscopy lists and treated with mastic 1 g four times daily for 14 days. [13C]Urea breath tests (UBTs) were carried out immediately before, on day 15 and 5 weeks after treatment with mastic. RESULTS: Mastic had no effect on H. pylori status in any of the eight completed patients; all remained H. pylori positive by UBT with no change in delta scores [pre-treatment mean +/- s.e.m. 19.1 +/- 3.7, day 15 (post-treatment) 18.7 +/- 3.8, P = 0.8, paired t-test]. CONCLUSION: Despite reported anti-H. pylori action in vitro, this preliminary study shows that mastic has no effect on H. pylori in humans.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether mastic gum suppresses or eradicates Helicobacter pyloriinfection in humans. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients with H. pylori infection, and without gastroduodenal ulceration, were recruited from day-case endoscopy lists and treated with mastic 1 g four times daily for 14 days. [13C]Urea breath tests (UBTs) were carried out immediately before, on day 15 and 5 weeks after treatment with mastic. RESULTS:Mastic had no effect on H. pylori status in any of the eight completed patients; all remained H. pylori positive by UBT with no change in delta scores [pre-treatment mean +/- s.e.m. 19.1 +/- 3.7, day 15 (post-treatment) 18.7 +/- 3.8, P = 0.8, paired t-test]. CONCLUSION: Despite reported anti-H. pylori action in vitro, this preliminary study shows that mastic has no effect on H. pylori in humans.
Authors: Andriana C Kaliora; Maria G Stathopoulou; John K Triantafillidis; George V Z Dedoussis; Nikolaos K Andrikopoulos Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2007-02-07 Impact factor: 5.742