Serum ferritin, hemoglobin, and Helicobacter pylori infection: a seroepidemiologic survey comprising 2794 Danish adults.
OBJECTIVE
Helicobacter pylori infection was recently associated with iron-deficiency anemia. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between H. pylori infection, hemoglobin, and iron status using serum ferritin as a marker for total body iron.


METHODS
Serum ferritin, hemoglobin, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against H. pylori were assessed in 2794 Danish adults who attended a population survey. IgG antibodies were measured with an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, serum ferritin with an immunoradiometric assay, and hemoglobin with Coulter-S.


RESULTS
The seroprevalence of H. pylori infection did not relate to hemoglobin. Serum ferritin levels were significantly lower in men (114 vs. 120 microg/L; P = 0.01) and in postmenopausal women (63 vs. 77 microg/L; P = 0.02) who were IgG positive than in seronegative individuals. IgG-positive people more often had reduced serum ferritin levels (</=30 microg/L) than seronegative people. This association persisted in multivariate analysis after adjusting for possible confounding factors (odds ratio, 1.4; 95% confidence interval 1.1-1. 8).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum ferritin levels are reduced in people with increased IgG antibodies to H. pylori. H. pylori infection affects iron metabolism in humans.
Milman
N
N
Department of Medicine, Naestved Hospital, Naestved, Denmark.
Rosenstock
S
S
Andersen
L
L
Jørgensen
T
T
Bonnevie
O
O
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012698:Serologic Tests
D006454:Hemoglobins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron