Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and metabolic syndrome

To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components in patients with Helicobacter pylori that was detected using histopathological diagnostic methods.

The study included 200 patients who presented with dyspeptic complaints and had indication for endoscopy. H. pylori-positive [HP (+)] and H. pylori-negative [HP (-)] patients were compared in terms of MS and its components.

The prevalence of H. pylori in general patient population is 49.5%. When patients were examined using a diagnostic criteria of MS, MS was present in 78 patients (78.8%) in the HP (+) (n=99) group and in 22 patients (21.8%) in the HP (-) (n=101) group (p<0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed that H. pylori infection enhances the risk of developing MS by approximately 3.6 times (Relative Risk - (RR)=3.617, 95% CI: 2.465-5.307, p<0.001). With regard to the MS criteria, mean systolic-diastolic blood pressures and body mass index were significantly higher in HP (+) individuals than in HP (-) individuals. Furthermore, fasting plasma glucose, insulin and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance, very low-density lipoproteins, and triglyceride levels were also higher in the HP (+) group, whereas high-density lipoproteins levels were lower.

H. pylori infection is a risk factor for MS. H. pylori leads to insulin resistance by developing chronic inflammation and accordingly facilitates the development of MS.