Bacteria, Cancer, and GERD

This article caught my eye because I know people that have had to deal with this health problem.  My concern is about the over use of acid blocking drugs which are known to lead to cancer and also to reduction of hydrochloric (HCl) acid in your stomach. 

The acid problem is of concern because it may really be with reflux that you do not have enough stomach acid.  This is very true as you age and also if you are taking too many prescribed drugs (Are you prescribed an acid blocker for all your Rx?)

Acid blocking drugs also create a risk for infection and illness because of the reduced HCl, something that is part of your immune system.  Get sick too often when on these drugs?  Get food poisoning?

Do you have a wheat allergy?  The connection between Barret's and wheat allergy has been well established for decades.

Many things to consider -

Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Jul 1;45(1):29-38. Epub 2007 May 22.

Microbial colonization of the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Macfarlane S, Furrie E, Macfarlane GT, Dillon JF.

Source

Dundee University Gut Group, Ninewells Hospital Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom. s.macfarlane@dundee.ac.uk

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease, in which patients are at greatly increased risk of esophageal dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Over the past 2 decades, there has been an increase in the incidence of both BE and adenocarcinoma; however, the involvement of microorganisms in BE is uncertain. The aim of this study was to characterize microbial communities in esophageal aspirate specimens and on distal esophageal mucosal samples from patients with BE.

METHODS:

Biopsy and aspirate specimens were obtained by endoscopic examination from 7 patients with BE and 7 control subjects without BE. Samples were cultured under aerobic, anaerobic, and microaerophilic conditions for yeasts and bacteria, including Helicobacter pylori. Bacterial isolates were identified by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Fluorescence microscopic examination was also used to determine the spatial localization of these organisms on mucosal surfaces. Significant colonization was detected in 6 patients with BE and in 4 control subjects.

RESULTS:

Overall, 46 bacterial species belonging to 16 genera were detected, with 10 species being common in both groups. Both aspirate and biopsy samples from patients with BE contained complex populations of bacteria. Uniquely, high levels of Campylobacter species (Campylobacter concisus and Campylobacter rectus), which have been linked to enteritis, periodontal infections, and tumor formation in animals, were found in 4 (57%) of 7 patients with BE but in none of the control subjects. Microscopic examination revealed that bacteria on mucosal biofilms often occurred in microcolonies.

CONCLUSIONS:

The occurrence of nitrate-reducing Campylobacter species in patients with BE may suggest that there is a link in either the initiation, maintenance, or exacerbation of disease processes leading to adenocarcinoma formation.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17554697

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Natural Health Tip - PPI

For most people who would like a natural replacement for anti-acid drugs start first by getting a true evaluation of the hydrochloric acid level in your stomach.

If it is low then consider using Betaine HCl supplements.

In addition, consider that drinking fluids with a meal lowers the available HCl and digestive enzymes produced by your body to help in digestion and metabolism. Drink liquids before you eat, chew your food very thoroughly, and wait a good hour or so to drink more liquid.

Using high quality digestive enzymes, like our full spectrum blend, with each meal will help substantially especially if you are older than 35.

A taste of Celtic salt, a cayenne capsule, a glass of apple cider vinegar tea or just sipping a glass of tepid water will go a long way to improve the acid problem you may be facing.

Another good suggestion is to use bitters. Contact us for our effective formula.

Resolve Acid Reflux with Care, Naturally

UPDATE: May 09
----------------
I've posted a number of articles about the conventional treatments for acid reflux here on several occasions, including problems with the Rx.
better-than-rx-for-gerd, Nexium, Why Acid and others.

I haven't said too much about what I think of the surgical treatments but that's for another day.

Now here's an article about two "non-surgical" surgical treatments that seem to have a requirement for anesthesia of some sort or another.

I am not a fan of the "reflux drugs" because of the interference they cause with protein metabolism and detoxification in the liver as well as bone lose and reduced immunity.

I am more in favor of natural care which might include the use of digestive enzymes, raw honey, water, apple cider vinegar diluted in a glass of water, Taoist salt, cayenne, several other natural therapies as well as just learning to properly chew your food and eating much more slowly.

How to apply Active Manuka Honey to the following Internal Ailments:

Acid Reflux
Take 1 teaspoon of Active Manuka Honey 3-4 times per day on a small square inch size piece of bread, toast or bagel, 20 minutes before meals, to coat out the esophagus.

Heartburn
Take 1 teaspoon of Active Manuka Honey 3-4 times per day on a small square inch size piece of bread, toast or bagel, 20 minutes before meals, to coat out the esophagus.

Esophagus Ulcer
Take 1 teaspoon of Active Manuka Honey 3-4 times per day on a small square inch size piece of bread, toast or bagel, 20 minutes before meals, to coat out the esophagus.

Up-set Stomach
Take 1 teaspoon of Active Manuka Honey 3-4 times per day on a small square inch size piece of bread, toast or bagel, 20 minutes before meals, to coat out an up-set stomach. Taking Active Manuka Honey is soothing after an episode of restaurant food poisoning. Due to the large and quick loss of liquids when experiencing diarrhea and vomiting after a food poisoning episode, you must consult your doctor quickly.

Stomach Ulcer / Peptic Ulcer
Take 1 teaspoon of Active Manuka Honey 3-4 times per day on a small square inch size piece of bread, toast or bagel, 20 minutes before meals, to coat out the stomach.

Helicobacter Pylori / h. pylori
Take 1 teaspoon of Active Manuka Honey 3-4 times per day on a small square inch size piece of bread, toast or bagel, 20 minutes before meals, to coat out the stomach and naturally help destroy the h. pylori bacteria typically associated stomach ulcers.

Gastritis
Take 1 teaspoon of Active Manuka Honey 3-4 times per day on a small square inch size piece of bread, toast or bagel, 20 minutes before meals, to coat out the stomach.

Duodenal Ulcer
Take 1 teaspoon of Active Manuka Honey 3-4 times per day on a small square inch size piece of bread, toast or bagel, 20 minutes before meals, to coat out the duodenum.

Ulcerative Colitis
Take 1 teaspoon of Active Manuka Honey 3-4 times per day on a small square inch size piece of bread, toast or bagel, 20 minutes before meals, to coat out the stomach and help sooth the ulcerative colitis.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Take 1 teaspoon of Active Manuka Honey 3-4 times per day on a small square inch size piece of bread, toast or bagel, 20 minutes before meals, to coat out the irritable bowel lining.

Nonsurgical acid reflux therapies work By Will Dunham, Mon Jan 19, 2009

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two nonsurgical procedures relieve many symptoms of acid reflux disease including heartburn in people who are not helped by the medications typically used to treat it, U.S. researchers said on Friday.

In this chronic condition, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, irritating its lining and causing inflammation. Persistent, often-severe heartburn is the most common symptom.

Most people are helped if they take a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors such as AstraZeneca Plc's Nexium and Prilosec, Wyeth's Protonix, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co's Prevacid and Eisai Inc's Aciphex.

For those who are not helped by medications, there are few options short of surgery.

The new study, published in the journal Archives of Surgery, found two rarely performed so-called endoluminal therapies reduced heartburn, swallowing difficulties and voice hoarseness in many patients who underwent them.

Both are done using an endoscope, a long flexible instrument inserted through the mouth and down the esophagus.

One procedure called full-thickness plication uses the endoscope to tighten the junction between the esophagus and the stomach with sutures. The other, called radiofrequency therapy, uses heat to improve the function of the valve between the esophagus and stomach.

In this study, 68 patients underwent radiofrequency treatment and 58 had full-thickness plication.

"I think medication is still the first thing that people should try for reflux," Dr. Louis Jeansonne IV of Ochsner Medical Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, one of the researchers, said in a telephone interview.

"Surgery is still the most effective treatment in people who don't have relief with medications. But this study shows that this therapy without surgery is a viable option in patients who either can't have surgery or don't want surgery," Jeansonne added.

Surgery used to treat acid reflux is called laparoscopic fundoplication, in which doctors take the top of the stomach and wrap it around the lower part of the esophagus to create a barrier for acid reflux.

Acid reflux returns more than 80 percent of the time when people stop taking the medications.

"It's nice to be able to offer something less invasive," said Dr. Edward Lin of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, another of the researchers.

Lin noted the two nonsurgical treatments are uncommon in part because health insurance companies typically do not pay for them. Lin added that these nonsurgical treatments do not preclude a patient from getting surgery later if they do not provide relief.

(Editing by Julie Steenhuysen and Todd Eastham)
Copyright © 2009 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

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