C Trumps H Maybe you've heard of the "butterfly effect" - the idea that something as insignificant as the motion of a butterfly's wing can set in motion a slight disturbance that's gradually amplified until it affects the weather on the other side of the world. Similar types of subtle cause and effect take place in our bodies all the time. For instance, you might not imagine that bacteria in the digestive tract could have a profound effect on cardiovascular health. And yet two new studies reveal just that, further emphasizing the importance of preventing and treating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). H. pylori is a bacterium that creates peptic ulcers by weakening the protective coating of the stomach and duodenum (the section of intestine just below the stomach), allowing acid to irritate the sensitive stomach lining. Research has also shown that infection by this bacterium may play a role in the development of heart disease, autoimmune diseases and skin diseases. The most recent studies even suggest a link between H. pylori and several different cancers, including those of the stomach, pancreas and the larynx. A new trial from the University of Graz in Austria examined 87 patients with duodenal ulcers. The Graz team measured the patients' cholesterol levels, and then measured them again after one year of treatment with drugs that neutralized H. pylori. Although total cholesterol levels rose, the patients in whom H. pylori was successfully eradicated showed a significant increase in HDL cholesterol. More importantly, the ratio of HDL to LDL was favorably increased by nearly 12 percent. This outcome was described as "at least as strong" as that seen in the use of statin drugs. The exact relationship of H. pylori infection and cholesterol levels is still unknown. Another recent H. pylori study was conducted by Italian researchers who recruited 235 subjects: 130 free of heart disease, and 105 who had suffered stokes due to atherosclerosis (plaque deposits in arteries). In analyzing a comparison of blood samples, the Italian team found a significant association between atherosclerosis and the presence of H. pylori. Fortunately, there may be an easy way to help prevent H. pylori with a vitamin supplement. In the e-Alert "Following Your Gut" (8/28/03), I told you about a study from the San Francisco VA Medical Center in which researchers examined blood samples and accompanying data collected from more than 6,700 adult subjects. About one-third of the blood samples revealed the presence of H. pylori bacterium. The samples were also tested to measure levels of ascorbic acid vitamin C. After accounting for variable factors that included ethnicity, researchers concluded that among white subjects who showed the highest levels of vitamin C, H. pylori infection was reduced by 25 percent. However, non-white subjects with high vitamin C levels didn't receive the same benefit; only a very modest correlation to reduced infection. These are the correlations the researchers are certain of. Questions about cause and effect, however, produce uncertain answers. For instance: Does vitamin C reduce the chance of H. pylori infection, or does H. pylori cause vitamin C levels to be diminished? Also, H. pylori infection often occurs when patients are very young, leading to ulcers later in life. Whether vitamin C could prevent this early infection is not known. Some animal studies, however, have indicated that H. pylori may be reduced with high levels of vitamin C intake. In spite of the unknown factors, the lead researcher of this study, Joel A. Simon, M.D., told Science Daily that he would encourage everyone - especially those who test positive for H. pylori - to increase consumption of vitamin C-rich foods. In e-Alerts and HSI Members Alerts we've written about two natural agents that can help rid your digestive tract of H. pylori without the unwanted side effects of antibiotics. In the August 2001 issue of the Member's Alert newsletter, we told you about a formula called Probiotics 12 Plus that contains a beneficial bacterial strain proven to destroy resistant pathogens. Laboratory testing has shown that that this formula's helpful bacterium, called TH 10, inhibits all strains of h. pylori - even those that have become resistant to antibiotics. Probiotics 12 Plus is available from Uni Key Health Systems. For more information, you can visit the web site at unikeyhealth.com. And in the November 1999 Members Alert, we told you how lactoferrin, a protein found in bovine colostrum, can kill H. pylori bacterium, and may also help protect you from becoming infected with H. pylori in the first place. Studies show that lactoferrin binds iron in your blood, keeping it away from cancerous cells, bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that require iron to grow. Research also suggests that the lactoferrin protein activates specific strands of DNA that turn on the genes that launch your immune response. Lactoferrin is available through many sources online and in most health food stores. Hopefully you'll never need to worry about H. pylori, which infects about one in ten people. But if you should test positive for this disorder, talk with your doctor or a naturopathic healthcare professional about taking quick steps to address the problem - ideally without the use of antibiotics. Sources:
"Effect of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication on High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol" American Journal of Cardiology, Vol. 93, No. 2, 1/15/04, cardiosource.com
"Wiping Out Stomach Bug Improves Cholesterol Level" Reuters Health, 2/19/04, heartcenteronline.com
"Last Week it Was Cancer, This Week it's Heart Disease" Brian Hoyle, National Review of Medicine, Vol. 1, No. 6, 3/30/04, nationalreviewofmedicine.com
"Relation of Serum Ascorbic Acid to Helicobacter Pylori Serology in US Adults: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey" Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 22, No. 4, 283-289 (2003), jacn.org
"Vitamin C May Protect Against Ulcer-causing Bacteria, Study Finds" Science Daily, 8/1/03, sciencedaily.com | 
