AB Yogurt to the Rescue

Some people with recurrent indigestion have a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori in their stomach. When normal measures fail, they are often prescribed a triple- or even a quadruple-drug regime. Even then, eradication of the H. pylori may be difficult. Now it’s been shown that addition of a probiotic yogurt can help in the eradication process.

A study in Taiwan has shown that 4 weeks’ pretreatment with what’s known as AB-yogurt can significantly increase the H. pylori eradication rate in people who have failed on a triple-drug regime (amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and omeprazole). The “AB” stands for yogurt containing lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium, which are known as probiotics. The study doesn’t clarify whether the probiotics or the yogurt itself helped with the eradication process.

Eating yogurt is healthy, particularly when you are coping with a gastrointestinal problem, such as IBS or inflammatory bowel disease. And it tastes good, too.