Association between Helicobacter pylori and Serum Leptin in Iranian Dyspeptic Patients

BACKGROUND: To investigate any possible relationship between serum leptin level and H. pylori infection in dyspeptic Iranian adults. METHODS: A total of 153 dyspeptic patients referring to Firoozgar hospital for esophagogastroduodenoscopy were enrolled in the study. Serum leptin level was measured before endoscopy, after overnight fasting. Two biopsy specimens were taken from antrum for each patient during endoscopy: one to detect H. pylori infection by Rapid Urease Test (RUT) and the other evaluated by an expert pathologist, blind to the RUT results and patients. Serum leptin level was compared between H.pylori-positive negative groups. RESULTS: A total of 153 dyspeptic patients with the mean age of 43.2±14.3 years were evaluated. The overall prevalence of H.pylori infection was 49.6%. H.pylori infection was significantly associated with serum leptin level (p<0.001). In addition, we found a significant relationship between serum leptin level and gender (p<0.02). Furthermore, serum leptin level was correlated with age (r=0.17, p=0.0031). However, the H.pylori-positive group was older in comparison to the H.pylori negative group (45.65±13.9 vs. 40.7±14.13, p=0.035). The two groups were not significantly different in terms of gender, height, weight or BMI. CONCLUSION: H.pylori infection may influence leptin production. Advanced age might expose the individual to H.pylori infection and consequently influence the leptin level.