To evaluate of the effect of adding licorice to the standard treatment regimen of Helicobacter pylori

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of licorice in H. pylori eradication in patients suffering from dyspepsia either with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) or non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) in comparison to the clarithromycin-based standard triple regimen.

Methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 120 patients who had positive rapid urease test were included and assigned to two treatment groups: control group that received a clarithromycin-based triple regimen, and study group that received licorice in addition to the clarithromycin-based regimen for two weeks. H. pylori eradication was assessed six weeks after therapy. Data was analyzed by chi-square and t-test with SPSS 16 software.

Results: Mean ages and SD were 38.8±10.9 and 40.1±10.4 for the study and control groups, respectively, statistically similar. Peptic ulcer was found in 30% of both groups. Response to treatment was 83.3% and 62.5% in the study and control groups, respectively. This difference was statistically significant.

Conclusion: Addition of licorice to the triple clarithromycin-based regimen increases H. pylori eradication, especially in the presence of peptic ulcer disease.

Keywords: Dyspepsia; Helicobacter pylori; Licorice; Peptic ulcer.