Is Helicobacter Pylori an endogenous source of diethyl phthalate in humans?

Monoethyl phthalate (MEP) is a metabolite used to assess exposure to diethyl phthalate (DEP). Helicobacter Pylori (HP) has been shown to produce DEP in laboratory studies. We used NHANES 1999-2000 data for 1623 adults to investigate whether HP seropositivity was associated with MEP levels. MEP levels were higher in individuals with HP seropositivity (p=0.0237), however the association differed by race. These results suggest that HP may be an endogenous source of DEP in some populations.