From the Guidelines
Fried food does not directly cause ulcers, but it may worsen symptoms in people who already have ulcers due to its high fat content, which can increase stomach acid production and delay stomach emptying. Ulcers are primarily caused by Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection or long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen 1. According to a study published in the Annual Review of Medicine in 2022, the lifetime risk of peptic ulcer is approximately 1 in 6 (∼17%) among those with H. pylori infection 1.
Some key points to consider:
- H. pylori infection is a major cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer 1
- The risk of developing an ulcer among those with latent H. pylori infection is approximately 1% per year, independent of NSAID use 1
- Eradication of H. pylori before starting NSAIDs has been shown to reduce the subsequent risk of ulcer 1
- Managing diet by limiting fried, spicy, and acidic foods may help reduce discomfort, but dietary changes alone cannot cure ulcers
If you have ulcer symptoms, it's best to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment, which typically includes antibiotics (such as amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and metronidazole) combined with acid-reducing medications (like proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole or pantoprazole) for H. pylori infection, or acid suppressants for NSAID-induced ulcers 1.
From the Research
Causes of Peptic Ulcer Disease
- The principal causes of peptic ulcer disease are Helicobacter pylori infection and aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use 2.
- There is no mention of fried food as a cause of peptic ulcer disease in the provided studies.
Relationship Between Diet and Peptic Ulcer Disease
- The provided studies do not investigate the relationship between fried food and peptic ulcer disease.
- However, they do discuss the role of NSAIDs and H. pylori infection in the development of peptic ulcers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Treatment and Prevention of Peptic Ulcer Disease
- Acid blockers, such as omeprazole, can heal peptic ulcers in approximately 80% to 100% of patients within 4 weeks 2.
- Eradication of H. pylori decreases peptic ulcer recurrence rates from approximately 50% to 60% to 0% to 2% 2.
- Discontinuing NSAIDs heals 95% of ulcers identified on endoscopy and reduces recurrence from 40% to 9% 2.