Correlation between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Metabolic Abnormality in General Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested a link between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and metabolic abnormality. This study aimed at investigating the correlation between H. pylori infection and metabolic abnormality in a general population. METHODS: All enrolled participants underwent a carbon-13 urea breath test ((13)C-UBT). For each individual, the following data were collected: age, gender, alanine transaminase (ALT), total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, fasting plasma glucose, postprandial blood sugar, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and bone mineral density (BMD). RESULTS: The study included 1867 (393 females and 1474 males, aged 54.0 ± 9.6 years) people that took a physical examination. There was no significant difference in gender and age between the study participants with and without H. pylori infection. The statistical data are as follows: albumin: P = 0.045, uric acid: P = 0.025, fasting glucose: P = 0.043, and postprandial blood glucose: P = 0.035. In terms of the patients with NAFLD, there were significant differences in ALT and HDL-C between the study participants with and without H. pylori infection. TG (P = 0.048), HDL-C (P = 0.011), and fasting blood glucose (P = 0.018) were significantly different in both groups among individuals who got osteopenia. CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection may be an important factor affecting metabolic abnormality and osteoporosis.