Benefits of Cranberries in prevention of H. Pylori bacterial infection
New Delhi: With a view to create awareness and share critical insights on the benefits of Cranberry juice in prevention of H. Pylori bacterial infection and strengthen gut health, India office of US Cranberry Marketing Committee conducted a series of insightful and interactive sessions with leading gut specialists, gastroenterologists and endocrinologists across seven Indian cities.
The sessions were addressed by Dr. Jignesh Gandhi (Senior Consultant at the Department of General & Laparoscopic Surgery, Fortis Hospitals, Mumbai), Dr. Amy B. Howell, (Ph.D. Associate Research Scientist Marucci Center for Blueberry Cranberry Research Rutgers University, USA) who joined the session virtually and Sumit Saran, US Cranberry Marketing Committee – India Representative.
Deliberating on the key findings of Cranberries in prevention of H. Pylori bacterial infection, Dr. Jignesh Gandhi (Senior Consultant at the Department of General & Laparoscopic Surgery, Fortis Hospitals, Mumbai) said, H. Pylori bacterial infection is menacing threat to India’s health and it’s health economy.
“This bacterium leads to Gut Dysbiosis hampering the protecting layer of stomach lining causing a spectrum of clinical problems. These bacteria can lead from a perennial problem of acidity to a grave problem like stomach cancer in the long term if not kept under regular surveillance. About 60% of our Indian population is affected by the H. Pylori bacteria of which around 3% can have active ulcer disease with few of them leading to surgical complications and small percentage having a life time risk to develop stomach cancer. We have around 50,000 patients seeking treatment for H pylori across in form of triple drug medical therapy for a duration of 2 weeks as a standard of care. The problem is the long duration of treatment with poor patient compliance which leads to drug resistance and the H pylori bacteria getting an upper hand making it a difficult infection to treat. We are a long way before we can eradicate this infection due to the socioeconomic status and poor patient compliance in our country,” Gandhi added.
Amy Howell said, “The proanthocyanidins or “PAC” compounds in Cranberries has multiple health benefits and it is what makes it so effective in the suppression of H. Pylori bacterial infection. Multiple researches show that the anti-adhesion property of the PAC prevents the bacteria from sticking to the gut and hence prevents the infection at the very first stage. Since cranberry juice does not kill the bacteria, patients develop no resistance, so often seen with antibiotics. The natural gut microbe remains preserved. This is a very good reason for India to adopt this type of dietary approach for managing these infections.”
Elaborating on the India market, Sumit Saran, said, “India is a growing market for US Cranberries. Consumption is increasing rapidly as more and more consumers get aware of the taste and health benefits of cranberries. US cranberries in India are commonly available in dried or in juice form. It can be easily bought from major e-commerce platforms or leading retailers across the country.
