title: A possible association of low pepsinogen I and pepsinogen I/II with low and high body weight in Japanese men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is unknown whether low serum pepsinogen I and pepsinogen I/II ratio (PGI-PGI/II), a marker for chronic atrophic gastritis, is associated with low or high body weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the association between low PGI-PGI/II and both ends of the spectrum of body mass index (BMI) in 819 apparently healthy Japanese men aged 20-75 years who received a medical check-up in 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In univariate analysis, serum pepsinogen I, but not pepsinogen II or pepsinogen I/II, was significantly reduced across the increasing BMI categories. Multivariate regression analysis showed that, compared with BMI 21.0-22.9 kg/m(2), BMI of 20.9 kg/m(2) and less or 25.0 kg/m(2) and above was significantly associated with low PGI-PGI/II (pepsinogen I<50 ng/ml combined with PG I/II<3.0), even after adjustment for relevant confounders. These associations showed a J-shaped curve against BMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low PGI-PGI/II may be independently associated with both low body weight and obesity in Japanese men.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medical Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado, Saitama 350-0295, Japan. Electronic address: gvm1302@josai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Ayano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kutsuma
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medical Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado, Saitama 350-0295, Japan. Electronic address: gvm1204@josai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Haruki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oshida
authors.affiliation: Saitama Health Promotion Corporation, 519 Kamiookubo, Sakura, Saitama 338-0824, Japan. Electronic address: suwa@saitama-kenkou.or.jp.
authors.forename: Kaname
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suwa
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medical Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado, Saitama 350-0295, Japan. Electronic address: keinaka@josai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020116:Pepsinogen A / Q000097:blood*; D020115:Pepsinogen C / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020115:Pepsinogen C; D020116:Pepsinogen A
keywords: Atrophic gastritis; Low body weight; Obesity; Pepsinogen