title: Dietary and anthropometric indicators of nutritional status in relation to Helicobacter pylori infection in a paediatric population.
abstract: It has been postulated that Helicobacter pylori infection could affect growth and appetite, consequently influencing body weight. Therefore, the association between H. pylori infection and the dietary and anthropometric indicators of nutritional status of a paediatric population were investigated. A total of 525 children (aged 4-16 years) who were referred to the gastroenterology unit of the Sor Maria Ludovica Children's Hospital from Buenos Aires, Argentina, were enrolled and completed an epidemiological questionnaire. H. pylori infection was diagnosed using the ¹³C-urea breath test (¹³C-UBT). Height and weight were assessed for calculation of anthropometric indicators. Energy and macronutrient intakes were estimated by 24 h dietary recall. Data analysis was performed using a χ² test, a Student's t test, a Mann-Whitney U test and linear and logistic regressions. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 25·1 % (with a mean age of 10·1 (SD 3·1) years). A tendency towards lower energy, carbohydrate, protein and fat intakes was observed in infected patients; however, it was not associated with H. pylori infection in any of the evaluated age groups (4-8, 9-13 and 14-16 years). Underweight, stunting, overweight and obesity were also not associated with the infection. Although height-for-age and BMI-for-age Z scores tended to be lower in infected patients, the differences between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative children were not statistically significant. In conclusion, H. pylori infection was not associated with dietary intake or with anthropometric indicators in the present population of children with gastrointestinal symptoms; however, an increased sample size would be needed to confirm the observed tendency towards lower dietary intake and lower anthropometric indicators of nutritional status in H. pylori-infected children.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stable Isotopes Applied to Biology and Medicine, Physics Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires,Junín 956,1113Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Mariana A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Janjetic
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stable Isotopes Applied to Biology and Medicine, Physics Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires,Junín 956,1113Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mantero
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Children Hospital 'Superiora Sor Maria Ludovica',Calle 14 No. 1631, 1900 La Plata,Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cueto Rua
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Children Hospital 'Superiora Sor Maria Ludovica',Calle 14 No. 1631, 1900 La Plata,Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balcarce
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology (IMPAM, UBA-CONICET), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires - Argentine National Scientific and Technological Research Council,Paraguay 2155,1121Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zerbetto de Palma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology (IMPAM, UBA-CONICET), School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires - Argentine National Scientific and Technological Research Council,Paraguay 2155,1121Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stable Isotopes Applied to Biology and Medicine, Physics Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires,Junín 956,1113Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcela B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Zubillaga
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stable Isotopes Applied to Biology and Medicine, Physics Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires,Junín 956,1113Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Boccio
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stable Isotopes Applied to Biology and Medicine, Physics Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires,Junín 956,1113Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Cinthia G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Anthropometric indicators