Using antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria that cause ulcers reduces the risk of stomach cancer, a new study suggests.

Stomach cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer worldwide, and people who are infected with the germ that causes ulcers, the Helicobacter pylori bacterium, are more likely to develop malignancies of the gut.

About two-thirds of people harbor H.pylori in their bodies, but in most cases they experience no discomfort or other symptoms. To determine whether eradicating it would reduce stomach cancer risk, researchers reviewed six studies involving 6,500 participants.

The analysis found that people who were put on antibiotics along with a gastric acid suppressing drug to kill H.pylori had less stomach cancer risk than those who received a placebo or no treatment.