H. Pylori Protects Against Stroke and Lung Cancer

The January 6, 2013 issue of the journal, GUT, reported that in a 12 year study of 10,000 people, the presence of a very virulent strain of H. pylori protected against stroke and lung cancer. We know that H. pylori causes gastric ulcers and carcinoma but it remains ironic that this versatile microbe seems to have protective effects against these disorders.

The risk of death from stroke was dimished by 55% and of lung cancer by 45%. Nonetheless, it is important to appreciate that these numbers are merely based on associations and that it is far from proven that these findings may be no more than a marker for some other process.