Lipid Profile in Subjects with Helicobacter pylori Infection

Background and Objectives: Helicobacter pylori cause a chronic gastric infection, and may cause extra gastrointestinal disease. The association between H. pylori infection and serum lipid profiles is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate any possible relationship between H. pylori infection and lipid levels. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 400 volunteer referring to medical centers of Kashan, Iran between December 2005 and March 2006. Helicobacter pylori infection status was determined by assaying serum anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G antibody. Total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride concentrations were measured by routine enzymatic methods. The data for H. pyloriseropositive and –seronegative individuals were compared. Results: Three hundred nineteen subjects (79.8 percent) were H. pylori-seropositive. The serum triglyceride concentration and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio were significantly higher in H. pylori-seropositive than H. pylori–seronegative individuals (162.03 vs. 143.88 mg/dl, P < 0.05 and 4.27 versus 3.91, P < 0.05 respectively). Conclusion: The findings confirm the existence of a moderate association between H. pylori infection and lipid modulation. It is also possible that H. pylori infection promotes atherosclerosis by acting through changes in lipid profile.