title: Helicobacter pylori eradication and change in markers of iron stores among non-iron-deficient children in El Paso, Texas: an etiologic intervention study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed whether Helicobacter pylori eradication was followed by changes in iron stores among non-iron-deficient children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind randomized intervention trial on 110 asymptomatic 3- to 10-year-olds with H pylori infection assigned to any of the following 4 arms: both quadruple eradication and iron supplementation, either quadruple sequential eradication or iron supplementation, or placebo only. Hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin were measured at baseline and 8 months later to assess changes according to study arm, H pylori infection status at ≥45 days, and cytotoxin-associated gene product A status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intent-to-treat (n = 110) and per-protocol (n = 90) analyses revealed no differences across study arms in changes of iron stores. However, we found that those who had their infection eradicated had a 3-fold increased average change from baseline serum ferritin compared with that of children who remained infected (P < 0.05). Eradication of infection by cytotoxin-associated gene product A negative strains was associated with a larger ferritin increase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this double-blind randomized trial, the first among non-iron-deficient, asymptomatic H pylori-infected children living in the contiguous United States, we found no effect of H pylori eradication regarding changes in iron stores. However, those who had their infection eradicated at follow-up had a significantly larger increase in serum ferritin from baseline.
authors.affiliation: UT HSC at Houston School of Public Health, El Paso Regional Campus, El Paso, Texas 79902, USA. victor.cardenas@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Victor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Cardenas
authors.forename: Carmen A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Prieto-Jimenez
authors.forename: Zuber D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Mulla
authors.forename: Jose O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Delfina C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: David Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Melchor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ortiz
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013045:Species Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D005293:Ferritins