Serum ferritin and Helicobacter pylori infection in children: a sero-epidemiologic study in Korea.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori infection is known to affect iron metabolism and serum ferritin levels, which are reduced in adults with H. pylori infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and iron status in healthy Korean children.


METHODS
The H. pylori seropositivity in 753 schoolchildren aged 6-12 years was screened for using an ELISA and confirmed by western blot analyses. Serum ferritin levels were measured using an immunoradiometric assay in 36 H. pylori-seropositive children and in 72 age- and gender-matched seronegative controls.


RESULTS
The median serum ferritin levels were significantly lower in H. pylori-seropositive children than in seronegative controls (24 vs 39 ng/mL; P < 0.001). The prevalence of iron deficiency (ferritin < 15 ng/mL) in H. pylori-seropositive children was significantly higher (13.9%) than in seronegative children (2.8%). This association persisted after adjusting for age and their socioeconomic status (odds ratio, 5.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-30.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum ferritin levels are reduced in children with H. pylori infection. The H. pylori infection may lead to iron deficiency in children.
Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea. jkseo@plaza.snu.ac.kr
Jeong Kee
JK
Seo
Jae Sung
JS
Ko
Kyung Dan
KD
Choi
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D065731:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005838:Genotype; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics*; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D005293:Ferritins; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D007501:Iron; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C045793:CYP2C19 protein, human; D065731:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19