Gastric ulcers are a problem that many North American adults live with.
The most common cause of gastric (80%) and duodenal (90%) ulcers is Helicobacter pylori, a small spiral-shaped Gram-negative bacterium that thrives in the highly acidic environment of the stomach. H. pylori is now known to be the cause most cases of gastric and duodenal ulcer, conditions that were previously attributed to stress and spicy foods. H pylori may also cause gastritis. In addition, infected persons are at a greater risk of developing mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and gastric cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 25,000,000 Americans suffer from ulcers, and 9 out of 10 ulcers are caused by H. pylori.
Now researchers have found a link between H. pylori virulence (ability to cause infection) and a high-salt diet. High salt concentrations in the stomach may induce gene activity resulting in greater virulence of the bacteria and increased severity of gastric disease.
It is interesting that there is a speculative link between a high salt diet and stomach cancer, and a link between a high salt diet and H. pylori, and a link between H. pylori and stomach cancer. Perhaps H. pylori is the missing link between a high salt diet and stomach cancer?
Symptoms of H. pylori infection:
- burping,
- abdominal pain which is temporarily relieved by eating,
- “gnawing” ache similar to hunger,
- stomach sensitivity to certain foods such as coffee, tea, spicy foods, acid foods, and alcohol.
Read more about ulcers and H. pylori:
Helicobacter pylori : Its Role in Peptic Ulcer Disease
Peptic Ulcer Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment
H. pylori: What Is It and How Do You Get It?
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