Use of antioxidants to eradicate Helicobacter pylori
Some authors show that the best treatment is the eradication of the bacteria18. Accordingly, some studies in humans40 used antioxidants to eradicate H. Pylori and observed that vitamin C has important effects in the bacteria eradication in patients with peptic ulcer. But these studies showed that smaller doses of vitamin C for a longer period of time had a better response when compared with higher doses. Thus, it is observed that patients with peptic ulcer by H. pylori can take up to 500 mg/day of vitamin C for a period of three months, which does not exceed the recommended UL of 2000 mg, according to DRIs13. Another antioxidant used to eradicate H. pylori is the capsaicin present in pepper and chilies. Studies on animals showed that capsaicin has effect in healing gastrointestinal lesions. Likewise, some researchers39 studied the effect of capsaicinoids in individuals with peptic ulcer by H. pylori or aspirin and showed that these substances are gastroprotective only in individuals with aspirin-induced lesions. It is worth noting that peppers may be associated with irritations in the gastric mucosa, and may not have a gastroprotective effect in some individuals with peptic ulcer.