Association between Helicobacter felis-induced gastritis and elevated glycated hemoglobin levels in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes.

Helicobacter pylori infection has been described in association with increases in glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) levels in patients with type 1 diabetes. The purpose of the present study was to use an animal model of Helicobacter infection to test, under controlled conditions, the hypothesis that infection is associated with high HbA(1c) levels. Diabetes was induced in C57BL/6 mice by administration of streptozotocin, and the mice were orally inoculated with H. felis. Six weeks after inoculation, infected mice (n=10) showed gastritis scores significantly greater (P=.01) than those of uninfected mice (n=10). HbA(1c) levels were significantly higher in infected mice with gastritis (11.6%; n=6) than in infected mice without gastritis (8.4%; n=4) or uninfected mice (7.6%; n=10). It was concluded that gastritis induced by H. felis is associated with increased HbA(1c) levels in the mouse model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes.