Heliobacter Pylori infection & how to support your microbiome.

Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria that colonises the stomach lining and is commonly associated with digestive symptoms such as nausea, reflux, upper digestive discomfort, and irregular bowel motions, with bloating. Over time H. Pylori may cause gastritis, impaired stomach acid production and oral symptoms including halitosis.

However, there are some people that remain asymptomatic.

Unfortunately, an often overlooked effect of H. pylori is its influence on the overall gut microbiome diversity. Research suggests that infection can reduce microbial diversity, which is a key marker of a resilient and balanced gut ecosystem. Lower diversity may contribute to ongoing digestive complaints, increased gut inflammation and reduced immune resilience. In some individuals, it may also impact nutrient absorption, particularly nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron and zinc. This is where a comprehensive stool analysis, along with standard blood testing for micronutrients can help to understand the long-term health journey.

The best course of action does seem to be triple or quadruple therapy (antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors) for complete eradication. And in most cases, this is what I would also suggest.

But as a follow up naturopathic approach, or for those who are wanting to follow a more holistic approach to support the body, a clinical nutrition prescription often involves a combination of specific herbs, micronutrients and probiotics to support the overall microbiome diversity.

A whole-food, anti-inflammatory diet rich in colourful vegetables, fibre and polyphenol-containing foods helps nourish beneficial gut bacteria and support microbiome diversity. Foods such as broccoli sprouts, garlic, green tea and berries contain compounds that may help inhibit H. pylori activity.

Targeted supplements may also be considered, including strain specific probiotics to help restore microbial balance, zinc carnosine and mastic gum to support stomach lining integrity, and nutrients such as vitamin C and N-acetyl cysteine that may help reduce bacterial adhesion. When combined with personalised nutritional strategies, these approaches may support digestive healing while helping to rebuild a more diverse and resilient gut microbiome.

From a DNA/nutrigenomics perspective, there are some people who have a variant for the TLRF4 gene, which may increase their risk of H Pylori infection.

If you want to know more about H. Pylori or how to support your microbiome diversity post H Pylori treatment, make sure to reach out!