A salty diet can also aggravate gastric ulcer and even increase the risk of gastric cancer, according to new laboratory research. Why? Because salt promotes the growth of Helicobacter pylori, one of the main causes of gastric ulcers and increases a person's risk of stomach cancer.
Dr. Scott Merrell and Dr. Hanan Gancz of the United States found that people who eat too much salt are much more likely to have serious stomach diseases than others. When they put Helicobacter pylori in a saline environment, these cells are activated and proliferate.
The reproduction of bacteria is often related to the environment. Dr. Hanan Gancz added: 'when activated, they regulate the surrounding environment and make the environment better adapted to their growth, which is often detrimental to the human body. '
The researchers speculate that the mechanism may be that these salt activated Helicobacter pylori can activate some genes, leading to the release of toxins.
The study also suggests that patients infected with H. pylori are less likely to develop into gastric cancer and other malignant gastric diseases if they reduce the salt content in their diet. 'D。 Dr. Scott Merrell went on to say, 'the next focus of our research is on the mechanism, which genes of H. pylori are activated. If we can find them, it will help to develop new therapeutic drugs. '
Dr. Scott Merrell and Dr. Hanan Gancz presented the results of these studies at the annual meeting of American microbiology in Toronto. As for these studies, Dr. Lawrence saubermann of the University of Rochester commented, "we don't know a lot about the phenomenon. Some people are infected with H. pylori and have the disease, while most people have no obvious symptoms after infection. At the same time, not everyone infected with H. pylori will develop gastric cancer. At the moment, we can't explain these things. Another concern is that doctors often don't test patients for H. pylori infection except for obvious symptoms. But once the infection is checked and confirmed, there are more than two powerful antibiotics. However, doctors worry that this will lead to the production of a large number of drug-resistant Helicobacter pylori. So Dr. Lawrence saubermann hopes that Dr. Scott Merrell and Dr. Hanan Gancz can further study when and how H. pylori causes the disease.
Note: nutritionists suggest that 5 g per person per day is appropriate.