Helicobacter pylori infection and iron deficiency in teenage females in New Zealand.
BACKGROUND
Iron deficiency is an important problem in New Zealand children and young adults. Iron deficiency and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection are each more common in Māori and Pacific Island ethnic groups.


OBJECTIVE
This study seeks to determine if H. pylori infection is associated with iron deficiency.


METHODS
792 female students from 7 Auckland high schools (median age 16 years) had H. pylori serology and tests for iron deficiency assessed by a combination of serum ferritin, iron saturation and mean cell volume.


RESULTS
The prevalence of positive H. pylori serology was highest for Pacific Island students (49.0%; CI 38.0-60.0), intermediate for Māori (26.7%; CI 16.9-36.4) and Asian (24.7%; CI 12.6-36.7) and lowest for European (13.7%; 6.0-21.4) p<0.0001. Students with positive H. pylori serology had lower mean levels of iron saturation (p=0.013), but not of ferritin (p=0.068), haemoglobin (p=0.08) or mean cell volume (p=0.16), compared to those with negative serology. Positive H. pylori serology was associated with increased risk of iron deficiency (RR 1.20; CI 1.08-1.34), but not anaemia (RR 1.01; CI 0.87-1.18), after adjusting for age, ethnicity and school SES decile.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that H. pylori infection is associated with iron deficiency in adolescent females. There are significant differences in H. pylori serology amongst different ethnic groups in New Zealand.
Fraser
Alan G
AG
Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. a.fraser@auckland.ac.nz
Scragg
Robert
R
Schaaf
David
D
Metcalf
Patricia
P
Grant
Cameron C
CC
D000293:Adolescent; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D005293:Ferritins