Prevention by bovine milk against Helicobacter pylori-associated atrophic gastritis through its adherence inhibition.

Background/Aims: The effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on the development of atrophic gastritis aral intestinal metasplasis in relation to lifestyle and diet and the effect of the bevine milk on H. pylori adherence to gastric antral mocoss were investigated. Methodology: H. pylori infection was investigate in 63 patients without endoscopic evidence of gastroduodenal disease. Presseres of H. pylori infection was assessed by culture and histologic examination of antral and corpus biopsy samples. Grades of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia were judged with chromoendoscopy (Congo red-methylene blue test). Adherence of H. pylori was evaluated with scarming electron microscopic examination of antral mucosa in Mongolian gerbils. Results: Cross-sectional analysis of lifestyle and diet showed that a high intake of bovine milk was significantly related to prevention of H. pylori infection and the developments of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. H. pylori adherence to the gastric mucosa was inhibited by bovine milk in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: Bovine milk prevents the development of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia through its defense mechanisms against the attachment of H. pylori to the gastric mucesa.