Efficacy of Lactoferrin with Standard Triple Therapy or Sequential Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Bovine lactoferrin addition to regimens of Helicobacter pylori treatment has been tried, with conflicting results.

Aim: To assess the effect of bovine lactoferrin in addition to the anti-H. pylori treatment.

Methods: We enrolled 400 H. pylori-infected patients who were randomized into 4 equal groups: (A): proton-pump-based triple therapy

(PpTT) for 2 weeks, (B): sequential therapy for 2 weeks, (C): proton-pump-based triple therapy plus bovine lactoferrin for 2 weeks, and

(D): sequential therapy plus bovine lactoferrin for 2 weeks.

Results: In the per-protocol analysis, the success in groups A, B, C, and D were 70.3%, 82.8%, 85.6%, and 94.5%, respectively (P < .001).

The treatment success rate for the sequential therapy plus bovine lactoferrin regimen was significantly higher than that with sequential

therapy alone (94.5% vs. 82.8%, P = .013). The same applied for proton-pump-based triple therapy (85.6% vs. 70.3%, P = .014). The

addition of bovine lactoferrin and the presence of endoscopic corpus gastritis were independent predictors for successful eradication

of H. pylori.

Conclusion: Bovine lactoferrin could hasten the effectiveness of the proton-pump-based triple therapy or sequential therapy for H.

pylori eradication.