Helicobacter pylori infection: an added stressor on iron status of women in the community.
OBJECTIVE
To explore a possible association between Helicobacter pylori infection and iron status.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Ballarat (a major regional city in Victoria), population 78000, October November 1997.


METHODS
160 women and 152 men, a subsample of participants in a cardiovascular disease risk factor prevalence survey for whom frozen plasma was available.


METHODS
H. pylori IgG antibody status by enzyme immunoassay; iron intake; plasma iron, transferrin and ferritin concentrations.


RESULTS
28% of women and 33% of men were infected with H. pylori. The mean (SEM) plasma ferritin concentration of infected women (59.3 [7.6] microg/L) was significantly lower than for non-infected women (88.8 [7.9] microg/L; P=0.002), after adjusting for age. Mean daily dietary iron intakes were similar in infected and non-infected women.


CONCLUSIONS
H. pylori infection appears to be an additional stressor on women's iron status, but the mechanism remains to be determined.
Peach
H G
HG
University of Melbourne, Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital, VIC. a.temperley@gpph.unimelb.edu.au
Bath
N E
NE
Farish
S J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D015984:Causality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron