SERUM FERRITIN, HEMOGLOBIN, AND HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION - A SEROEPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEY COMPRISING 2794 DANISH ADULTS

Background & Aims: Helicobacter pylori infection was recently associat ed with iron-deficiency anemia. The aim of this study was to examine t he relationship between H, pylori infection, hemoglobin, and iron stat us using serum ferritin as a marker for total body iron. Methods: Seru m ferritin, hemoglobin, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against H. pylori were assessed in 2794 Danish adults who attended a populatio n survey, IgG antibodies were measured with an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, serum ferritin with an immunoradiometric assay, a nd hemoglobin with Coulter-S. Results: The seroprevalence of H, pylori infection did not relate to hemoglobin. Serum ferritin levels were si gnificantly lower in men (114 vs, 120 mu g/L; P = 0.01) and in postmen opausal women (63 vs. 77 mu g/L; P = 0.02) who were IgG positive than in seronegative individuals. IgG-positive people more often had reduce d serum ferritin levels (less than or equal to 30 mu g/L) than seroneg ative people. This association persisted in multivariate analysis afte r adjusting for possible confounding factors (odds ratio, 1.4; 95% con fidence interval 1.1-1.8), Conclusions: Serum ferritin levels are redu ced in people with increased IgG antibodies to H. pylori. H. pylori in fection affects iron metabolism in humans.