Probiotics may manage mild H Pylori infection, says Nobel laureate

Hyderabad: Renowned Australian scientist Dr Barry Marshall, a Nobel Prize-winning gastroenterologist, said probiotics, such as yogurt with lactobacilli, could manage mild infections of Helicobacter pylori bacteria, though antibiotics are still necessary for complete eradication. “In animals, we’ve seen that some probiotics can suppress H. pylori,” he said, noting one study that achieved a modest 20 per cent success rate in gerbils, a kind fo rodent. “If you had a very resistant Helicobacter and couldn’t take antibiotics, probiotics might offer some relief.” Speaking to Deccan Chronicle about the implications of his discovery of H. pylori bacteria and the ongoing challenges in its treatment, during the inauguration of Barry Marshall Centre for HPylori Research at AIG Hospitals on Friday, Dr Marshall said, “Nobody could believe that a common bacteria could be harmful.” “Instead of infecting animals, I decided to drink the bacteria myself. Dr Marshall explained, “We found that people with Helicobacter in New York City were 40 per cent less likely to have asthma or allergies.” His team is developing a product based on this concept, “It’s called Imbalance, and the idea is to provide a controlled exposure to the bacterium.