Positive Health Online
Your Country
![[Image: http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2836.df7d2315253110ff5b3a566f94871f99.jpg "http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk")
![[Image: https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/4046.12831f50177f8848ee87b8e94411d6b3.jpg "https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/")
![[Image: http://www.balens.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2148.50367fa908013fae0a7f1a171543ef92.jpg "http://www.balens.co.uk")
![[Image: http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/1859.1296090fd8385e7ceff51c8011559097.jpg "http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer")
Research: YOU and co-workers,
Listed in Issue 133
Abstract
YOU and co-workers, Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing Cancer Hospital and Beijing Institute for Cancer Research, Beijing, China, have tested natural treatments for pre-cancerous stomach lesions.
Background
The aim of this study was to test the effects of one-time Helicobacter pylori treatment and long-term vitamin or garlic supplements in reducing the prevalence of advanced pre-cancerous stomach lesions.
Methodology
Most of the adults aged 35-64 years in 13 randomly selected villages in China, were identified and given baseline endoscopies in 1994. In 1995, 3365 eligible subjects were randomly assigned in a factorial design to three interventions or placebos: amoxicillin and omeprazole for 2 weeks in 1995 (H. pylori treatment); vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium for 7.3 years (vitamin supplement); and aged garlic extract and steam-distilled garlic oil for 7.3 years (garlic supplement). Subjects underwent endoscopies with biopsies in 1999 and 2003, and the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions was determined by histopathologic examination of seven standard biopsy sites.
Results
H. pylori treatment resulted in statistically significant decreases in the combined prevalence of severe chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, or gastric cancer in 1999 (odds ratio = 0.77) and in 2003 (odds ratio = 0.60), and had favourable effects on the severity and progression of pre-cancerous gastric lesions in 2003. Fewer subjects receiving H. pylori treatment than receiving placebo developed gastric cancer (adjusted p = .14). No statistically significant favourable effects were seen for garlic or vitamin supplements.
Conclusion
H. pylori treatment reduces the prevalence of pre-cancerous stomach lesions and may reduce stomach cancer incidence, but further data are needed to prove the latter point. Long-term vitamin or garlic supplementation had no beneficial effects on the prevalence of pre-cancerous stomach lesions or on stomach cancer incidence.
References
You WC et al. Randomized double-blind factorial trial of three treatments to reduce the prevalence of precancerous gastric lesions. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 98 (14): 974-983, Jul 19, 2006.
