Eliminating H. pylori Lowers Risk by 75%.

While it is well known within the medical community that there is a link between the bacteria Helicobacter pylori and rates of gastric cancer--commonly referred to as stomach cancer--the rates and risk among Americans largely has been understudied. Now, after analyzing records of close to 400,000 patients, researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa., have found that successfully eliminating H. pylori from the gastrointestinal tract leads to a 75% reduction in the risk of gastric cancer.

Researchers also found that rates of gastric cancer after detection of H. pylori infection are higher among specific populations, suggesting that people who fall into these groups could benefit from more-careful monitoring. The study is published in the journal Gastroenterology.

H. pylori is estimated to infect half of the global population, largely those in the eastern parts of the world. It can induce ulcers and other gastrointestinal issues but does not cause difficulties in the majority of...