Is there an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and alteration of lipid and glucose serum levels after elimination of secondary causes?

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori colonizes the stomachs of 50% of the world’s human population throughout their lifetimes. Recent research has focused on whether H. pylori colonization is a risk factor for some extragastric diseases. This infection may disturb glucose and lipid metabolism in a way that may increase the risk of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the association between H. pylori infection and metabolic parameters. This cross-sectional study surveyed anti H. pylori IgG antibodies in 132 healthy check-up subjects in 2015; 125 subjects (43 men and 82 women, age 20–59 years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Metabolic parameters were determined by routine blood tests and Body Mass Index (BMI) was also calculated. 68 patients (54.4 %) had serum antibodies to H. pylori. The group (n = 68) of subjects with positive serology for H. pylori differed from the group without positive serology (n = 57) in age (P value <0.03). No significant difference was observed regarding the other parameters such as glucose, lipid and body mass index. Our results are in agreement with those of some studies that had tried to eliminate confounding factors. Subjects with positive serology for H. pylori are characterized by greater age. If confounding factors are taken into account, most authorities consider the associations between H. pylori infection and metabolic parameters to be non-causal.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, glucose, serum lipid, BMI, metabolic parameters