The French Canadian company this month announced the publication of Dr Philip Sherman and colleagues' works conducted at the Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.
The studies showed that a combination of Lactic Acid Bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 (Lacidofil) halved the risks of H. pylori colonization of the digestive tract in rodents.
H. pylori infection is, according to the researchers, of increasing concern in terms of public health. It is estimated that up to two-thirds of the world population is infected and the bacteria is the designated culprit for most peptic ulcers and some gastric carcinoma.
Previous in vitro evidence has suggested that Lactobacillus species prevent the growth of H. pylori, and Dr Sherman's study is said to be the first addressing the in vivo effects of Lacidofil against H. pylori colonization.
It concluded that pre-treatment with the probiotic combination Lacidofil decreases the proportion of mice with H. pylori in the gastric mucosa from 100 per cent in the untreated group to 50 per cent in the probiotic group.
However, the way in which the probiotic works is not yet fully clear and Dr Bielanski suggested: "either simple competitive interaction between probiotics and H. pylori on gastric mucosa or the possible suppression of H. pylori urease, which is the crucial enzyme for H. pylori viability."
Valérie Delahaye-Sarraute, marketing director of Institut Rosell, said: "These promising results pave the way for yet another field of applications for our probiotics, especially in H. pylori infections".
These results complement a pilot study conducted by Bielanski in Poland, showing that Lacidofil enhances the eradication of H. pylori in patients under conventional treatment, while considerably reducing treatment associated side-effects. Put together, these results suggest Lacidofil could become a solution to prevent infection and improve eradication of H. pylori.
Growing scientific evidences prove the efficacy of probiotics in restoring and maintaining intestinal and vaginal microflora balance, enhancing intestinal transit, modulating the immune system, and enhancing lactose tolerance.
Lacidofil is a probiotic developed by Insitut Rosell to balance the intestinal microflora. It is a specially formulated combination of two strains of live lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11, selected for their specific action on the intestinal tract.
Clinical studies have shown that Lacidofil could be effective in preventing and treating antibiotic associated diarrhea and dysbacteriosis and reducing lactose intolerance. Lacidofil is fully registered in Canada and some Eastern European countries and under registration in Asian territories. It is also marketed in the US as a food supplement.
H. pylori is a bacterium that is found in the gastric mucous layer or adherent to the epithelial lining of the stomach. Its contamination route is not clear yet and thus it is difficult for public health authorities to draw prevention guidelines except for basic hygiene rules.
Current treatment regimens tend to involve antibiotic double or triple therapies, which can have side effects such as diarrhea, poor compliance and an increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance.