NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Supplementation with vitamin C enhances the success of Helicobacter pylori eradication efforts, say researchers from Iran.

Vitamin C has been shown to inhibit the growth of H. pylori in vitro, the authors explain, suggesting that addition of vitamin C to the eradication regimen could increase the eradication rate.

Dr. H. Zojaji and colleagues from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, evaluated the effect of adding 500 mg vitamin C to a regimen of metronidazole, amoxicillin, bismuth, and omeprazole (OMAB) on H. pylori eradication rates in 312 patients with dyspeptic symptoms and gastritis.

The researchers report their findings in the September issue of Digestive and Liver Disease.

The H. pylori eradication rate was significantly higher in the OMAB plus vitamin C group than in the OMAB-only group: 83% vs. 56.4% on per protocol analysis and 78% vs. 48.8% on intention-to-treat analysis.

Side effects occurred with comparable frequency in each group and included nausea, loose stool, and headache, with no serious adverse events.

“We recommend further prospective clinical trials to confirm the results of our study,” the investigators conclude. “Because of the safety of the supplement and its ease of administration and availability, vitamin C could be added to H. pylori eradication regimens.”

Reference:
Digestive Liver Dis 2009;41:644-647.