Review article: is there a link between micronutrient malnutrition and Helicobacter pylori infection?
Helicobacter pylori causes a chronic gastric infection, which is usually life-long. Many epidemiological studies have shown that this is probably one of the most common bacterial infections throughout the world involving 30% of the population living in developed countries and up to 80-90% of the population in developing regions. Concomitantly, developing regions also have high prevalence of micronutrient malnutrition. In the last few years, some studies have suggested that H. pylori infection may affect the homeostasis of different micronutrients including iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C and beta-carotene. In this article, we discuss the current scientific information of the effect that H. pylori infection may produce on micronutrient malnutrition.
Salgueiro
J
J
Stable Isotope Laboratory Applied to Biology and Medicine, Physics Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Zubillaga
M
M
Goldman
C
C
Barrado
A
A
Martinez Sarrasague
M
M
Leonardi
N
N
Boccio
J
J
D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology*; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000172:deficiency*
D018977:Micronutrients