KYOTO, Japan, Mar 23, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A new type of yogurt provides an
almost vaccine-like effect against the bacteria that cause gastritis and stomach
ulcers, researchers in Japan said.
Hajime Hatta, a chemist at Kyoto Women's University in Kyoto, Japan, said the
yogurt represents a unique approach to fighting stomach ulcers.
"With this new yogurt, people can now enjoy the taste of yogurt while preventing
or eliminating the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers," Hatta said in a
statement.
Hatta and colleagues said H. pylori seems to rely on a protein called urease to
attach to and infect the stomach lining. Hatta turned to classic vaccine-making
technology and injected chickens with urease and allowed the chickens' immune
systems to produce an antibody to the protein. The researchers then harvested
the antibody, called IgY-urease, from chicken eggs.
The scientists recruited 42 people who tested positive for H. pylori to eat two
cups daily of either plain yogurt or yogurt containing the antibody for four
weeks. Levels of urea, a byproduct of urease, decreased significantly in the
antibody group when compared with the control group, indicating reduced
bacterial activity, the researchers said.
Hatta cautioned that the anti-ulcer yogurt is not for those who are allergic to
milk or eggs.
The findings were presented at the 237th national meeting of the American
Chemical Society in Salt Lake City.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International