Bovine lactoferrin for Helicobacter pylori eradication: an open, randomized, multicentre study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Declining cure rates for Helicobacter pylori eradication necessitate novel therapeutic strategies.
• Identifying more effective treatments for H. pylori infection is a critical public health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of bovine lactoferrin as an adjunct therapy for H. pylori eradication.
• To compare the eradication rates and side effect profiles of different treatment regimens.

Main Methods:

• A multicentered prospective study involving 402 H. pylori-positive patients.
• Patients received one of three regimens: standard triple therapy, lactoferrin alone, or standard triple therapy plus lactoferrin.
• Treatment duration was 7 days for all regimens.

Main Results:

• The combination of standard triple therapy with bovine lactoferrin achieved the highest eradication rate at 90% (P < 0.01).
• Standard triple therapy alone resulted in a 77% eradication rate.
• The incidence of side effects was comparable across all groups, with no statistically significant differences.

Conclusions:

• Bovine lactoferrin serves as an effective adjuvant to standard 7-day triple therapy for H. pylori eradication.
• The addition of lactoferrin enhances treatment efficacy without increasing adverse events.
• This finding supports the use of bovine lactoferrin in clinical practice for H. pylori infections.