Association of Helicobacter Pylori Infection with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Iranian Adolescents: the CASPIAN III Study

Abstract

Background: At least half the world's population is colonized the stomach by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) which are a key constituent of the human microbiome. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of cardiometabolic risk factors with H. pylori infection in Iranian adolescents. Materials and Methods: The current study was conducted along with the third survey of a national school-based surveillance system in Iran, entitled "Childhood and Adolescence Surveillance and Prevention of Adult Non-communicable Disease" (CASPIAN) study. Detailed questionnaires on demographic, socioeconomic, dietary, and health-related information of the participants were filled by one of the parents under supervision of trained health-care workers. Trained healthcare professionals measured anthropometric indices, blood pressures according to standard protocols. Fasting venous blood was examined for fasting blood sugar and lipid profile. Results: Overall 882 serum samples were suitable for testing. H. pylori antibody was found in 643 serum samples (72.9). Among cardiometabolic risk factors, only the mean weight of participants was different between two groups (44.6 +/- 11.8 in H. pylori positive and 42.8 +/- 11.3 in H. pylori negative group; p=0.04). Overall, 5.1 of adolescents with positive H. pylori tests were overweight or obese, while 1.7 of negative ones were so (p=0.02). In the multivariate regression model, H. pylori seropositivity increased the risk of overweight (OR, 3.3; 95 CI, 1.2-9.3; p=0.03). In the multivariate model, association of other cardiometabolic risk factors with H. pylori infection was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: Results of present study showed that H. pylori infection was associated with excess weight in adolescents. H. pylori eradication may be decrease the risk of obesity.