Diabetes mellitus and Helicobacter pylori infection

Alterations of glucose metabolism in diabetes have been suggested as promot ing Helicobacter pylori colonization. We performed a cross-sectional sere-p revalence study of diabetic patients (insulin-dependent, or type 1, and non -insulin-dependent, or type 2, diabetes mellitus) with H. pylori and compar ed them with a control group. Consecutive diabetic outpatients aged 12 to 7 5 y and with disease duration of greater than 1 y were enrolled. Helicobact er pylori status was evaluated by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assa y for anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G. Demographic data were obtained from each individual, and socioeconomic class was assessed by occupation and edu cation level. A total of 891 individuals participated (240 with type-2 diab etes, 145 with type-1 diabetes, and 506 control subjects). After controllin g for age, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of H. pylo ri infection in any age group. Zn fact, the prevalence of H, pylori was num erically higher among children in the control group than among children wit h type-1 diabetes (25% versus 9%, respectively; P = 0.1). Previous associat ions of H. pylori and diabetes may have arisen from failure to consider soc ioeconomic status or age. Because childhood is the most common period for a cquisition of H. pylori infection, the higher prevalence of infection among the normal children as opposed to those with type-1 diabetes confirms the lack of an association. Nutrition 2000;16:407-410. (C)Elsevier Science Inc. 2000.