Relationship between alcohol consumption and active Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a cause of chronic gastritis and maybe responsible for functional dyspepsia in a subset of patients. Many risk factors, such as alcohol consumption and smoking, may contribute to the colonization and infection of H. pylori in humans. However, studies on the relationship between H. pylori infection and drinking or smoking have produced conflicting results.

The aim of this study was to examine whether consumption of alcohol or smoking is associated with active H. pylori infection in functional dyspepsia patients.

H. pylori infection was confirmed by CLOtest and histology on at least two biopsies. Active chronic gastritis was diagnosed using the updated Sydney system. In addition to gender and age, information on drinking and smoking habits was collected using a standard questionnaire. Functional dyspepsia was diagnosed according to the Rome II diagnostic criteria.

H. pylori infection was positive in 27.3% of the 139 functional dyspepsia patients. Both age and gender were not significantly associated with H. pylori infection. A multiple logistic model found that alcohol consumption (OR = 9.05, 95% CI: 1.05-77.98) and pathology (active gastritis) (OR = 595.39, 95% CI: 81.43-4353.33) were associated with H. pylori infection. Active gastritis was associated with alcohol consumption (OR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.03-8.02), smoking (OR = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.22-6.05) and age (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06).

In patients with functional dyspepsia, there is no significant association between active H. pylori infection and smoking. However, alcohol consumption appears to be associated with H. pylori infection.