Can Cranberries Prevent <i>H. Pylori</i> Bacterial Infection

Highlights:

About 60% of Indians are affected with H. pylori infection
Drinking cranberry juice helps prevent H. pylori infection and strengthens gut health

The India office of the US Cranberry Marketing Committee held a series of insightful and interactive sessions with top gut specialists, gastroenterologists, and endocrinologists across three Indian cities to raise awareness of the benefits of cranberry juice in the prevention of H. pylori bacterial infection and strengthen gut health.

Dr. Amy B. Howell, Ph.D. Associate Research Scientist Marucci Center for Blueberry Cranberry Research Rutgers University, USA, Dr. Jignesh Gandhi, Consultant GI and Laparoscopic, Robotic Surgeon, Fortis Hospitals, Mumbai, and Sumit Saran, US Cranberry Marketing Committee - India Representative, all spoke at the sessions. A top resident physician from each of the cities presided over the discussion.

Dr. Jignesh Gandhi, Senior Consultant at the Department of General and Laparoscopic Surgery, Fortis Hospitals, Mumbai, discussed the key findings of Cranberries in Prevention of H. pylori Bacterial Infection and stated that H. pylori bacterial infection is a menacing threat to India’s health and its health economy.

Health Benefits of Cranberries
Cranberries are little red berries that are high in nutrients with calories as low as 25, per serving. Cranberries help prevent urinary tract infections, reduce bad cholesterol, cure gum disease and boost your immune system. So, let’s grab a handful of cranberries for better health.

‘Cranberries can combat the H. pylori bacterial infection due to the presence of proanthocyanidins, also referred to as ‘PAC’ compounds to the cranberries. ’

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What is H. pylori Bacterial Infection

The H. pylori bacterium causes gut dysbiosis, which impairs the stomach’s outermost layer of defense and results in a variety of clinical issues. If these bacteria are not regularly monitored, they can eventually progress from a persistent issue with acidity to a serious issue like stomach cancer. In India, the H. pylori bacteria affects about 60% of the population. Of these, 3% may have active ulcer disease, and a smaller fraction may experience surgical complications or a lifetime risk of developing stomach cancer.

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Treatment of H. pylori Bacterial Infection

As a standard of care, H. pylori is treated using a triple medication medical therapy regimen that lasts for two weeks. The issue is the prolonged course of treatment coupled with low patient compliance, which promotes the development of medication resistance and gives the H. pylori bacteria the upper hand, making the illness challenging to treat.

“I had a chance to personally interact with the international leader from this research and also had some academic deliberations. In a country like India with a 60% and more population with H. pylori infection, suppression of 20% of infection merely by daily consumption of cranberry juice along with the medical standard of care would lead to a paradigm shift in the way we would manage this under-reported disease. This research is adapted to our country would not only affect the health economics but also reduce the incidence of a likely possibility of stomach cancer in this large, diversified population,” Dr. Gandhi added.

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Cranberry Juice in H. pylori Infection

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Amy Howell, Associate Research Scientist, Marucci Center for Blueberry Cranberry Research, Rutgers University, USA said, “The proanthocyanidins or ‘PAC’ compounds in Cranberries has multiple health benefits and it is what makes it so effective in the suppression of H. pylori bacterial infection. Multiple types of research show that the anti-adhesion property of the PAC prevents the bacteria from sticking to the gut and hence prevents the infection at the very first stage. Since cranberry juice does not kill the bacteria, patients develop no resistance, so often seen with antibiotics. The natural gut microbe remains preserved. This is a very good reason for India to adopt this type of dietary approach for managing these infections.”

According to Dr. Howell, routinely consuming 100% cranberry juice is a complementary strategy for reducing H. pylori infection and should not be considered an alternative to or replacement for antibiotics.

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Cranberry Consumption in India

India is a booming market for US cranberries, according to Sumit Saran, the country’s representative for the company. As more people become aware of the taste and health advantages of cranberries, consumption is rising quickly. In India, US cranberries are frequently sold in dry or juice form. It is readily available from significant e-commerce sites or top retailers all over the nation.