Oral Broccoli Sprouts Eradicate Helicobacter Pylori Infection

Oral Broccoli Sprouts Eradicate Helicobacter Pylori Infection

The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Volume 98, Issue 9, Supplement 1 , September 2003, Page S57
Abstracts Submitted for the 68th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology

Mark V. Galan, M.D., Arfana A. Kishan, M.D.,  Ann L. Silverman, M.D.*. William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI.

Purpose: Broccoli sprouts contain sulforaphanes that have been shown in vitro to eradicate antibiotic resistant strains of H. pylori (PNAS 2002; 99:7610). We sought to determine whether orally consumed broccoli sprouts could eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection in infected human volunteers.

Methods: Eight Helicobacter pylori positive patients were identified by H. pylori stool antigen testing (n=2) or gastric biopsies (n=6). By random assignment, patients consumed 7gm, 14gm or 28gm (2, 3 and 3 patients, respectively) of broccoli sprouts on an empty stomach twice daily for 7 days. We performed stool antigen testing immediately following the completion of treatment and at day 35 following the last dose of sprouts. C14 urea breath testing was performed on patients who remained antigen-negative at day 35. Patients completed questionnaires regarding symptoms, medical history, recent medications and palatability.

Results: Seven patients completed all 7 days of broccoli sprouts and the results are based on these patients; one patient withdrew for personal reasons. 5/7 (71%) patients were stool antigen negative immediately after the completion of therapy and all remained negative at day 35. Urea breath testing in these 5 patients showed one patient was negative, two positive and two were interpreted as “indeterminate”. Gastric biopsies were negative for H pylori by immunohistochemical staining for one patient with an “indeterminate” breath test. Of the 5 patients who provided information on pre- and post treatment symptoms (abdominal discomfort-pain, nausea, bloating), 4 reported abdominal symptoms at baseline. Of these, 2 reported improvement, 1 no change and 1 reported worsened symptoms after broccoli sprout therapy. The majority of patients rated the palatability of the sprouts as acceptable.

Conclusions: Orally consumed broccoli sprouts may eradicate H pylori infection. Most patients found broccoli sprouts palatable. The disappearance of H pylori stool antigen after broccoli sprout consumption in 5 patients suggests that the sprouts may have antibacterial properties. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal dose and whether concomitant proton pump inhibitors might augment the efficacy of broccoli sprouts.

Comment by ISS:  In this small clinical trial consumption of up to 56 g/d (2 oz/d) of broccoli sprouts for a week was associated with H. pylori eradication in only three out of nine gastritis patients.  This shows that treatment success is either dependant on the individual or that more than a week of eating 1 ounce twice a day is needed to eradicate H. pylori.