Body mass index is associated with Helicobacter pylori infection and increased oxidative DNA damage in an obese population

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in a Saudi Arabian population and its association with the body mass index (BMI) and serum 8-hydroxy deoxyguanine (8-OHdG) levels as biomarker for oxidative stress. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients that had experienced epigastric discomfort or dyspepsia for > 1 month and had undergone diagnostic upper endoscopy. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m(2) were defined as obese. The presence of anti-H. pylori antibodies was confirmed using an H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of 8-OHdG were measured using a competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: A total of 298 patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, 186 (62.4%) patients were H. pylori-positive and 112 (37.6%) patients were H. pylori-negative. The mean ± SD age of the overall study cohort was 47.17 ± 9.27 years. The H. pylori-positive patients had significantly higher levels of H. pylori IgG antibodies than H. pylori-negative patients. H. pylori prevalence linearly correlated with BMI quantile. The 8-OHdG levels were strongly associated with the BMI of the patients in the H. pylori-positive group. CONCLUSION: Obese individuals exhibited higher H. pylori prevalence than individuals with a lean BMI (BMI < 25.00 kg/m(2)).