Background
Helicobacter pylori
(
H. pylori
) infection is associated with remodeling of gastric microbiota. However, comprehensive analyses of the impact of
H. pylori
infection, eradication therapy and probiotic supplementation on gut microbiota are still lacking. We aimed to provide evidence for clinical decision making.
Methods
Seventy
H. pylori
-positive and 35
H. pylori
-negative patients (group C) were enrolled.
H. pylori
-positive patients were randomly assigned to group A (14-day bismuth-containing quadruple therapy) and group B (quadruple therapy supplemented with
Clostridium butyricum
). Stool samples of group A and B were collected on day 0, 14 and 56 while stool samples of group C were collected on day 0. Gut microbiota was investigated by 16S rRNA sequencing.
Findings
The Sobs index (richness estimator) was significantly higher in
H. pylori
-positive samples than
H. pylori
-negative samples (
p
< .05). Several metabolic pathways were more abundant in
H. pylori
-positive communities while some disease-associated pathways had higher potential in
H. pylori
-negative community through KEGG pathway analysis. Abundances of most butyrate-producing bacteria significantly decreased, while several detrimental bacteria increased after eradication therapy. Probiotic supplementation was associated with improved gastrointestinal symptoms as well as increased
Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes
ratio.
Interpretation
While
H. pylori
infection may not be necessarily detrimental in all patients, eradication of
H. pylori
was associated with widespread changes in gut microbial ecology and structure. Probiotic supplementation could relieve more gastrointestinal symptoms by inducing alterations in gut microbiota and host immune responses. As such, the decision to eradicate
H. pylori
should be based on comprehensive analysis of individual patients.
Gas production and visceral hypersensitivity both contribute to digestive symptoms, especially bloating and borborygmi, in IBS patients after lactose ingestion. Objective abdominal distention is not correlated with subjective bloating.
SUMMARY BackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome patients with diarrhoea (IBS-D) often report intolerance to milk; however, the mechanism underlying these symptoms is unknown.
Combined LHBT/SOCT testing using a H2 5 ppm cutoff may identify a subgroup of IBS patients with SIBO. Pilot data examining the clinical response to rifaximin suggest that this subset of IBS patients may benefit more than those with a normal test.
BACKGROUND: Many patients complain of abdominal symptoms with dairy products; however, clinical and psychosocial factors associated with self-reported lactose intolerance (SLI) have not been assessed in large studies. In particular, data are lacking from lactase deficient populations. This prospective cohort study assessed the prevalence of, and risk factors for, SLI in Chinese patients attending a gastroenterology clinic. METHODS: Consecutive patients completed questionnaires to assess digestive health (Rome III), psychological state (HADS), life event stress (LES), food intake, and quality-of-life (SF-8). A representative sample completed genetic studies and hydrogen breath testing (HBT) at the clinically relevant dose of 20 g lactose. KEY RESULTS: SLI was present in 411/910 (45%) clinic patients with functional abdominal symptoms. The genotype in all subjects was C/C-13910. A small number of novel SNPs in lactase promoter region were identified, including C/T-13908 which appeared to confer lactase persistence. Over half of the patients (54%) completed the 20 g lactose HBT with 58% (285/492) reporting typical symptoms. Positive and negative predictive values of SLI for abdominal symptoms during HBT were 60% and 44%, respectively. Psychological state and stress were not associated with SLI in clinic patients. SLI impacted on physical quality-of-life and was associated with reduced ingestion of dairy products, legumes, and dried fruit (p 0.05). CONCLUSIONS INFERENCES: In a lactase deficient population, approximately half of patients attending clinic with functional gastrointestinal symptoms reported intolerance to dairy products; however, SLI did not predict findings on 20 g lactose HBT. Independent of psychosocial factors, SLI impacted on quality-of-life and impacted on food choices with restrictions not limited to dairy products.
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