Is Helicobacter pylori seropositivity related to body mass index in the United States?
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori infection may decrease serum ghrelin and increase gastric leptin levels, which may, in turn, decrease body mass index.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether H. pylori seropositivity is associated with body mass index.


METHODS
Serum H. pylori and cytotoxin-associated gene product A (CagA) antibody levels were measured on 6724 adult participants of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-91). We evaluated the association between H. pylori/CagA antibody status [both negative (-/-), H. pylori-positive/CagA-negative (+/-), or both positive (+/+)] and body mass index, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. We also investigated whether H. pylori/cytotoxin-associated gene product A antibody status was associated with fasting serum leptin levels.


RESULTS
H. pylori/CagA antibody status was not associated with obesity (body mass index > or = 30 kg/m(2)) [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.2, 95% CI: 0.9-1.6 comparing (+/+) to (-/-) and adjusted OR 1.1, 95% CI: 0.8-1.5 comparing (+/-) to (-/-)], overweight (body mass index 25 to <30 kg/m(2)) [adjusted OR 1.0, 95% CI: 0.7-1.2 comparing (+/+) to (-/-) and adjusted OR 1.0, 95% CI: 0.8-1.3 comparing (+/-) to (-/-)], or fasting serum leptin level in the USA population.


CONCLUSIONS
H. pylori seropositivity and CagA antibody status are not associated with body mass index or fasting serum leptin level.
Ioannou
G N
GN
Primary and Specialty Medical Care Service, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA. georgei@medicine.washington.edu
Weiss
N S
NS
Kearney
D J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D020738:Leptin; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori