What to watch with Helicobacter and Darmgesundheit?

The question about Helicobacter pylori and gut health is complex. H. pylori colonizes the stomach lining and can cause gastritis, ulcers, and increased gastric cancer risk. However, eradication therapy (antibiotics + PPI) can disrupt the gut microbiome, leading to dysbiosis, diarrhea, or long-term metabolic issues. Therefore, after therapy, gut health should be supported – e.g., with probiotics (evidence-based but strain-specific) and a high-fiber diet. Genetic variants (e.g., IL-1B, TNF-α) may influence inflammatory response but are not clinically actionable. DNA testing for such variants is currently not recommended. More important are regular breath tests or stool antigen tests to confirm eradication. Caveat: Not every infection causes symptoms; overtreatment should be avoided. Evidence: human-moderate (eradication, probiotics) to mechanistic (genetics).