Metabolic Solutions, Inc.

Persistent presence of H. pylori slows growth rate

Metabolic Solutions, Inc. — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:57:05 +0000

Children whose Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection was eradicated grew taller and heavier than those who were not treated. Researchers at Vanderbilt University came to this conclusion after studying 295 school age children from rural communities in Columbia. The children were separated into two groups: 150 who were treated for H. pylori and 145 who were not. The treated children were given standard antibiotic therapy and rechecked every 6 months using the urea breath test. The children were followed for an average of 3.7 years. Researchers found that children from the treatment group were 2.98 cm taller on average, even after adjusting for variables that would affect height. The children in the treatment group were also 1.1 kg heavier on average. The researchers concluded that the findings suggest that in terms of growth, school age children may benefit from being treated for H. pylori infection.

Reference: Mera, RM. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2012

Vitamin C may help prevent stomach cancer

Metabolic Solutions, Inc. — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:26:13 +0000

High doses of vitamin C or ascorbic acid may help prevent Helicobacter pylori infection – the bacteria linked to stomach cancer. Researchers at Dana Farber Cancer Institute doing a literature review discovered that high prevalence of H. pylori is correlated with low vitamin C concentrations in the blood and gastric juice. The investigators further uncovered in the literature that high levels of vitamin C in gastric juice may inactivate H. pylori urease. While vitamin C does not cure the infection it may prevent infection or reinfection of H. pylori. Since H. pylori is strongly associated with stomach cancer the research suggests that eating foods rich in vitamin C might reduce the likelihood of getting stomach cancer. The urea breath test is an excellent method for detecting active H. pylori infection.

Reference: Indian Journal of Pharmacology

Ulcer causing bug tied to higher diabetes risk

Metabolic Solutions, Inc. — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:04 +0000

A recent study conducted at the University of Michigan showed that people infected with the ulcer causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are more than twice as likely as people who do not to develop diabetes. The researchers tracked 800 people for a decade none of whom had diabetes at the beginning of the study. Over time, 144 people developed the disease and 97 percent of those had tested positive for H. pylori at the start of the study. It is unclear why H. pylori and diabetes are related but one theory is that the bacteria could alter the conditions in the gut or promote inflammation that might contribute to diabetes. Healthcare professionals should screen for H. pylori using the highly accurate and noninvasive urea breath test.

Reference: Diabetes Care January 2012

Efficacy of H. pylori Therapies

Metabolic Solutions, Inc. — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:04:29 +0000

A growing body of research has suggested that the efficacy of various Helicobacter pylori treatment regimens can vary significantly when it comes to eradicating the bacteria. This study, conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, prospectively reviewed 1,463 individuals from various countries in South and Central America. All the subjects had tested positive for H. pylori infection after taking the urea breath test. Half the subjects received a standard triple therapy and the others received concomitant four drug therapy. Surprisingly the standard therapy was more effective (82% eradication) than the concomitant (73%) much is the opposite of the US patient experience. Furthermore, the success rate for the triple therapy varied from a low of 71% in Leon, Nicaragua to a high of 94% in Copan, Honduras. A possible explanation is the importance of antibiotic resistance patterns that vary by region and country.

Source: Gastroenterology Endoscopy News January 2012

Meta-analysis: the diagnostic accuracy of lactose breath hydrogen or lactose intolerance tests for predicting the North European lactase polymorphism C/T-13910.

Metabolic Solutions, Inc. — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:00:58 +0000

Researchers at McGill University (Montreal, Canada) performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the lactose intolerance hydrogen breath test as compared to north European genetic polymorphism C/T-13910. The north European genetic polymorphism C/T-13910 has previously been identified as the common leak in suffers of lactose intolerance. The researchers reviewed 19 studies of which 17 include the hydrogen breath test. Heterogeneity was explored by adjusting for studies including children, high or low dose lactose and to some extent by site of study. The result was a very high sensitivity (0.94) and specificity (0.90) suggesting that the hydrogen breath test for lactose intolerance is a very accurate test.

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Volume 35, Issue 4. Pages 429-440, February 2012

Helicobacter Pylori and Alzheimer’s

Metabolic Solutions, Inc. — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:03:42 +0000

In recent years researchers have begun to focus on the idea that H. pylori infection might also be a risk factor in the development of Alzheimer’s Dementia. One study published in the Journal of Neurology in 2009 even suggested that patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Dementia can improve cognitive function by eradicating the infection.

There have been several hypotheses as to why H, pylori and Alzheimer’s maybe linked. One is that H. pylori can cause vitamin B12 deficiency because of the infections effect on the stomach lining. Deficiency of vitamin B12 is known to be a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s. Another possibility is that inflammatory responses generated by infection with H. pylori causes atherosclerosis which is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s. Finally, studies have shown that H. pylori infection is higher in patients with diabetes. People with diabetes can more than double the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

These antidotal points linking H. pylori infection and Alzheimer’s givens medical professionals another reason to identify and treat H. pylori. With tools like the Urea Breath test identifying H. pylori is easy, fast and inexpensive.

Reference: Huffpost December 13, 2011

Fructose Malabsorption: How much Fructose Can a Healthy Subject Tolerate?

Metabolic Solutions, Inc. — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:55:54 +0000

The Hydrogen Breath Test to assess Fructose Malabsorption uses a challenge dose of fructose. The subject of an article published in Digestion examines what is the appropriate challenge dose. The researchers used challenge doses of 15, 25 and 50 grams of fructose. The results of the study were that a high percentage of the subjects were unable to tolerate the 50 gram dose although they exhibited no prior symptoms of Fructose Malabsorption. The researchers concluded that a 50 gram dose is inappropriate to characterize clinically significant Fructose Malabsorption. Metabolic Solutions uses a 25 gram challenge dose in its test.

Reference: Digestion. 2011 Sept 24; 84(4): 269-272

Lactose Intolerance and Celiac Disease

Metabolic Solutions, Inc. — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:29:24 +0000

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase which is produced by the cells lining the small intestine. When a person is newly diagnosed with Celiac disease it is often discovered that they also have become lactose intolerant. The reason is that Celiac disease patients have damage to the mucosa (or lining) of their small intestine where lactase enzymes necessary to digest milk are produced. Fortunately, lactose intolerance usually is mitigated once the person removes gluten from their diet and the small intestinal health improves. This reduction in lactose intolerance symptoms can take anywhere from six months to two years. As a result, a group of Italian researchers believe Celiac patients should be tested using the Hydrogen Breath Test within a year of being gluten free. The gluten free diet may have helped improve their lactase production to the point where they no longer need to avoid dairy products.

Reference: Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology 2007; 5:14 “A regression of Lactose Malabsorption in Coeliac patients after receiving a gluten free diet”

“Upset Stomach” Feels Better After Killing H. Pylori

Metabolic Solutions, Inc. — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:02:59 +0000

Numerous studies that looked at H. pylori eradication have yielded conflicting results in regards to the patient benefit. The HEROES (Helicobacter Eradication Relief of Dyspeptic Symptoms) trial was an attempt to clarify the benefit. The study evaluated 407 patients with a diagnosis of H. pylori infection and functional dyspepsia. The patients were divided into two groups – one that received the standard triple antibiotic therapy and the second that received only one antibiotic (omeprazole) for 10 days. In the antibiotics group 78.1% reported improvement in the global assessment of symptoms compared with 67.5% in the control group. However, in terms of quality of life, those in the antibiotic group reported significant improvement in scores (4.15) compared with controls (2.20) for physical changes. Furthermore, after one year 88.6% of those in the antibiotics arm were negative for H. pylori compared with 7.4% in the control arm. Diagnostic tests like the Urea Breath Test are ideal for assessing the outcome or eradication efforts because the Urea Breath Test is a measure of active H. pylori infection and will not yield false positive results from remaining antibodies.

Reference: Mazzoleni LE et al “Helicobacter pylori eradication in functional dyspepsia – HEROES Trial” Arch Intern Med 2011; 171(21): 1929-1936.

Corn Refiners Association Propose Name Change for High Fructose Corn Syrup

Metabolic Solutions, Inc. — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:15:13 +0000

The Corn Refiners Association has proposed to the FDA changing the name of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to “corn sugar”. Many people believe that the requested change is a result of increased consumer awareness of the health concerns associated with HFCS there has been a decline in sales of the sweetener. Proponents argue that this name change is only meant to confuse the many consumers who read food labels to identify and avoid foods that contain HFCS. Most significant is the change could pose life-threatening risks and confuse consumers with hereditary fructose intolerance as well as negatively impact the large number of people that suffer from fructose malabsorption. Consumer’s need to stay vigilant to the upcoming FDA decision.

The hydrogen breath test for detecting fructose malabsorption is a simple, non-invasive, inexpensive and safe test to determine whether your stomach discomfort is related to fructose malabsorption.