Does Helicobacter pylori infection play a role in iron deficiency anemia? A meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a meta-analysis of observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA).


METHODS
A defined search strategy was used to search Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Clinical Trials, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Premedline and Healthstar. Odds ratio (OR) was used to evaluate observational epidemiology studies, and weighted mean difference (WMD) was used to demonstrate the difference between control and intervention groups.


RESULTS
Fifteen observational studies and 5 RCTs were identified and used for calculation. The pooled OR for observational studies was 2.22 (95% CI: 1.52-3.24, P < 0.0001). The WMD for hemoglobin (HB) was 4.06 g/L (95% CI: -2.57-10.69, P = 0.01), and the WMD for serum ferritin (SF) was 9.47 mug/L (95% CI: -0.50-19.43, P < 0.0001). Results were heterogeneous for all comparisons.


CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis on observational studies suggests an association between H. pylori and IDA. In RCTs, eradication of H. pylori can improve HB and SF levels but not significantly.
Qu
Xin-Hua
XH
Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1630 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China.
Huang
Xiao-Lu
XL
Xiong
Ping
P
Zhu
Cui-Ying
CY
Huang
You-Liang
YL
Lu
Lun-Gen
LG
Sun
Xu
X
Rong
Lan
L
Zhong
Liang
L
Sun
Da-Yu
DY
Lin
Hai
H
Cai
Ming-Ci
MC
Chen
Zhi-Wei
ZW
Hu
Bing
B
Wu
Lian-Ming
LM
Jiang
Yi-Bin
YB
Yan
Wei-Li
WL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins