Long-term effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication on circulating ghrelin and leptin concentrations and body composition in prepubertal children.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori, and the chronic gastric inflammation that it causes, may compromise the function and survival of ghrelin-producing cells, resulting in a decrease of circulating ghrelin levels. This finding raises the possibility that the infection might affect growth in children by reducing the ghrelin production.


OBJECTIVE
To determine baseline circulating levels of ghrelin and leptin in prepubertal children with and without H. pylori infection and to evaluate the long-term effects of H. pylori eradication on circulating levels of ghrelin and leptin as well as on body composition.


METHODS
Thirty children with H. pylori-associated gastritis, 35 children with H. pylori-negative gastric mucosa, and 20 healthy controls were studied.


RESULTS
At baseline, while leptin levels were significantly lower in H. pylori-positive patients, ghrelin concentrations did not differ among the three study groups. However, a significant inverse correlation between ghrelin concentrations and histological severity of gastritis was found. Eradication of the organism was associated with a progressive decrease in ghrelin concentrations over baseline at both 6- and 12-month follow-ups. SDS-body mass index (BMI), lean and fat mass, as well as leptin concentrations, significantly increased over baseline at both follow-ups.


CONCLUSIONS
In prepubertal children, serum ghrelin concentrations are inversely related to the severity of H. pylori-associated gastritis. In these youngsters, long-term eradication of H. pylori infection is associated with a significant increase in BMI, lean and fat mass along with a significant decrease in circulating ghrelin levels and an increase in leptin levels.
Pacifico
Lucia
L
Department of Pediatrics, La Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy. lucia.pacifico@uniroma1.it
Anania
Caterina
C
Osborn
John F
JF
Ferrara
Eva
E
Schiavo
Elisa
E
Bonamico
Margherita
M
Chiesa
Claudio
C
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I