H-Pylori Ulcers & Vitamin C-Exercise & Diabetes/Blood Pressure

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Gut Check

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

December 29, 2004

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Dear Reader,

If you sometimes feel like the stress of the holiday season is

getting the better of you, here's one thing you don't have to

worry about: a stress-related stomach ulcer.

There's a popular misconception that stress can cause peptic

ulcers. And while it's true that excessive stress can

complicate an already existing ulcer, almost all peptic ulcers

are caused by helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a parasitic

bacteria that weakens the protective coating of the stomach,

allowing acid to irritate the sensitive stomach lining.

Hopefully you'll never need to worry about H. pylori, which

affects about one in ten people. But to be on the safe side,

research shows that boosting your intake of a vitamin you're

probably already taking may prevent H. pylori infection.

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Connecting C to H

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H. pylori bacterium was first identified in 1982. Since then,

scientists have discovered that infection by this spiral-shaped

bacterium may also play a role in the development of heart

disease, autoimmune diseases, and skin diseases. The most

recent research even suggests a link between H. pylori and

several different cancers, including those of the stomach,

pancreas, and the larynx.

In 2003, a team of researchers from the San Francisco VA

Medical Center designed a study to determine the

relationship between blood serum levels of vitamin C and H.

pylori infection.

The VA team examined blood samples and accompanying

data collected from more than 6,700 adult subjects as part of

the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

conducted in the late 80s and early 90s. 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 found 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.

Those are the correlations the researchers are certain of.

Questions about cause and effect, however, produce less

certain 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 infection may be reduced with high levels of

vitamin C intake.

Obviously, more research is called for. But in spite of the

unknown factors, the lead researcher, 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.

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Alternatives to antibiotics

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For many years the mainstream dismissed the idea that

bacteria caused ulcers. In the past two decades all that has

changed, and yet many doctors still don't test for H. pylori.

And when a patient does test positive for the bacterium,

many doctors simply reach for a prescription antibiotic – a

practice that has led to new drug-resistant strains of H. pylori.

Even worse, antibiotics can upset the delicate balance of

helpful bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract, paving the way

for more problems.

At HSI, we've written about several natural therapies that can

rid your body of H. pylori without the unwanted side effects

of antibiotics. In the August 2001 issue of the Members

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 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.

In the November 1999 HSI Members Alert, we told you how

lactoferrin, a protein found in bovine colostrum, can kill H.

pylori bacterium. 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.

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....and another thing

If you've resolved to get more exercise in 2005, here are two

points that might help you keep on track.

Point One:

A study from Northwestern University that followed the

exercise habits of more than 4,400 men and women for up to

15 years found that those who remained fit were far less

likely to develop type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure;

two conditions that often lead to a variety of health problems

and chronic diseases.

The results of this study are not surprising, of course. But I

was impressed by a comment from the lead researcher of the

study, Dr. Mercedes Carnethon, who singled out this

important point for BBC News: " The development of risk

factors for heart disease and stroke isn't just the natural result

of aging. "

Exactly so. None of the infirmities that so many regard as

" just part of getting older " should be thought of as inevitable.

With balanced nutrition and regular exercise, poor health is

not an inevitable part of aging.

Point Two:

In an American Heart Association (AHA) review of more

than 40 studies on the effects of exercise on heart health,

researchers concluded that heart disease can be prevented and

blood pressure can be lowered with regular exercise.

Again, this is no surprise. But the report on the study offered

an insight into the fact that most doctors are trained to simply

treat heart problems, not prevent them. So their first reaction

will likely be to reach for the prescription pad and to talk to

you about exercise second (if at all).

One of the AHA members who participated in the study slyly

noted that, when talking to physicians, drug sales

representatives don't talk about exercise instead of drugs,

even though the review shows that exercise often works just

as well as drugs to address heart issues. So it's up to each of

us to keep in mind how heavily influenced some doctors can

be by information they receive from the big pharmas when

deciding what, if any, treatment to take.

When it comes to exercise, we're on our own. But I know

from experience that it's always helpful when you have

motivators that can persuade you to stay the course. And for

me, it's a great motivation knowing that exercise provides a

way to avoid a visit to the doctor.

To Your Good Health,

Health Sciences Institute

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Sources:

" 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

" Vitamin C May Prevent Ulcers and Stomach Cancer " Dr.

ph Mercola, 8/20/03, mercola.com

" Exercise Prescriptions " Family Health Matters, 12/26/03

" Keeping Fit has Long-Term Benefit " BBC News, 12/17/03,

news.bbc.co.uk

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