Vitamin D is important if you have Helicobacter pylori

Summary

New research confirms that individuals with sufficient levels of vitamin D in their bodies are better able to eliminate Helicobacter pylori compared to those with insufficient vitamin D levels.

Research by Yildirim O, et al. shows that individuals with a vitamin D deficiency find it more difficult to eliminate an excess of Helicobacter pylori. Those with sufficient vitamin D levels in their bodies are more successful in eradicating Helicobacter pylori compared to those with insufficient levels of the vitamin. (Yildirim O, et al. 2017)

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium found in the stomach. It is one of the very few bacteria capable of surviving the stomach’s acidic environment. While Helicobacter pylori can withstand the low pH, it can also increase the pH level by breaking down urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. Commonly referred to as H. pylori, it is associated with conditions such as chronic gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) and peptic ulcers.

In the study, 220 men and women with H. pylori were tested, and the researchers observed that individuals who successfully eradicated H. pylori had more than twice the vitamin D levels (measured as 25-hydroxyvitamin, 25(OH)D, via blood tests) compared to those who were unsuccessful. A significantly higher proportion of patients with vitamin D deficiency were among those who failed to eliminate H. pylori despite receiving antibiotic treatment.

Yildirim O, et al. conclude that vitamin D deficiency may be considered a risk factor when attempting to eliminate H. pylori, suggesting that vitamin D supplementation could be necessary before initiating medical treatment for H. pylori.