Fish oil (Eicosapen) is less effective than metronidazole, in combination with pantoprazole and clarithromycin, for Helicobacter pylori eradication

• Published in: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 851 - 855
• Main Authors: Meier, R., Wettstein, A., Drewe, J., Geiser, H. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.06.2001; Blackwell
• Subjects: 2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Benzimidazoles - administration & dosage; Benzimidazoles - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Clarithromycin - administration & dosage; Clarithromycin - pharmacology; Digestive system; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Dyspepsia - drug therapy; Dyspepsia - microbiology; Enzyme Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Female; Fish Oils - administration & dosage; Fish Oils - pharmacology; Helicobacter Infections - drug therapy; Helicobacter Infections - pathology; Helicobacter pylori - isolation & purification; Helicobacter pylori - pathogenicity; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Metronidazole - administration & dosage; Metronidazole - pharmacology; Middle Aged; Omeprazole - analogs & derivatives; Pantoprazole; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Sulfoxides - administration & dosage; Sulfoxides - pharmacology; Treatment Outcome; Nitro compound; Imidazole derivatives; Clarithromycin; Dyspepsia; Spirillaceae; Eradication; n-3 fatty acid; Proton pump inhibitor; Helicobacter pylori; Antisecretory agent; Bacteria; Human; Drug combination; Spirillales; Pantoprazole; Fish oil; Macrolide; Infection; Antibiotic; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Benzimidazole derivatives; Digestive diseases; Metronidazole; Antibacterial agent; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0269-2813; 1365-2036
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2001.00989.x

Background: In vitroω‐3‐fatty acids (Eicosapen) are bacteriostatic to Helicobacter pylori and have a variety of immuno‐modulating effects. Aim: To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of eicosapen (E) as an antibiotic‐sparing component of a triple H. pylori eradication regimen in non‐ulcer dyspepsia patients in a randomized, double‐blind trial. Methods: Non‐ulcer dyspepsia patients (n=199), with a normal upper endoscopy and a positive 13C‐urea breath test (UBT) were randomly assigned to either pantoprazole, clarithromycin and metronidazole (PCM) or pantoprazole, clarithromycin and eicosapen (PCE) for 7 days. Four weeks after treatment, H. pylori eradication was determined by UBT. Symptoms were followed up to 16 months. Results: In the intention‐to‐treat population, PCM eradicated infection in 78% but PCE was successful in only 34% (P < 0.001). Symptomatic improvement occurred in both groups, and was not related to H. pylori eradication. Conclusion: Eicosapen is unlikely to be useful in H. pylori eradication regimens.