Helicobacter pylori infection is significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in the Japanese population.
BACKGROUND
Metabolic syndrome comprises a cluster of metabolic abnormalities leading to insulin resistance and atherosclerosis, and Helicobacter pylori is thought to be a contributing factor.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the association between H. pylori infection and metabolic syndrome in a large Japanese population.


METHODS
Consecutive asymptomatic subjects that underwent a complete medical survey in our institute between April 2006 and March 2007 were recruited, and a total of 5,488 men and 1,906 women were cross-sectionally studied. The association of H. pylori serostatus with traditional atherosclerosis risk factors was investigated by multiple linear regression analysis. Independent and significant factors affecting metabolic syndrome were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
H. pylori seropositivity significantly increased with age in both men and women. H. pylori seropositivity was significantly higher in cases with metabolic syndrome compared with those without metabolic syndrome (P < 0.001). There was a significant and independent association between H. pylori seropositivity and metabolic syndrome (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.18-1.62, P < 0.001) by multiple logistic regression analysis. H. pylori seropositivity was significantly associated with higher systolic blood pressure (beta coefficient = 1.03, P= 0.014), lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level (beta coefficient =-2.00, P < 0.001), and higher LDL-cholesterol level (beta coefficient = 2.21, P= 0.005) by multiple linear regression analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
In a large Japanese population, H. pylori infection was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome.
Gunji
Toshiaki
T
Center for Preventive Medicine, Kanto Medical Canter, NTT East, Tokyo, Japan.
Matsuhashi
Nobuyuki
N
Sato
Hajime
H
Fujibayashi
Kazutoshi
K
Okumura
Mitsue
M
Sasabe
Noriko
N
Urabe
Akio
A
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged