H G Peach1, N E Bath, S J Farish. 1. University of Melbourne, Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital, VIC. a.temperley@gpph.unimelb.edu.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore a possible association between Helicobacter pylori infection and iron status. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Ballarat (a major regional city in Victoria), population 78000, October November 1997. PARTICIPANTS: 160 women and 152 men, a subsample of participants in a cardiovascular disease risk factor prevalence survey for whom frozen plasma was available. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: H. pylori IgG antibody status by enzyme immunoassay; iron intake; plasma iron, transferrin and ferritin concentrations. RESULTS: 28% of women and 33% of men were infected with H. pylori. The mean (SEM) plasma ferritin concentration of infected women (59.3 [7.6] microg/L) was significantly lower than for non-infected women (88.8 [7.9] microg/L; P=0.002), after adjusting for age. Mean daily dietary iron intakes were similar in infected and non-infected women. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection appears to be an additional stressor on women's iron status, but the mechanism remains to be determined.
OBJECTIVE: To explore a possible association between Helicobacter pyloriinfection and iron status. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Ballarat (a major regional city in Victoria), population 78000, October November 1997. PARTICIPANTS: 160 women and 152 men, a subsample of participants in a cardiovascular disease risk factor prevalence survey for whom frozen plasma was available. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: H. pylori IgG antibody status by enzyme immunoassay; iron intake; plasma iron, transferrin and ferritin concentrations. RESULTS: 28% of women and 33% of men were infected with H. pylori. The mean (SEM) plasma ferritin concentration of infected women (59.3 [7.6] microg/L) was significantly lower than for non-infected women (88.8 [7.9] microg/L; P=0.002), after adjusting for age. Mean daily dietary iron intakes were similar in infected and non-infected women. CONCLUSIONS:H. pyloriinfection appears to be an additional stressor on women's iron status, but the mechanism remains to be determined.
Authors: A J Parkinson; B D Gold; L Bulkow; R B Wainwright; B Swaminathan; B Khanna; K M Petersen; M A Fitzgerald Journal: Clin Diagn Lab Immunol Date: 2000-11