Association between Helicobacter pylori-infection, C-reactive protein and status of B vitamins.

PURPOSE: Some investigations, but not all, found that a chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is associated with deficiencies in B vitamins, elevated plasma total homocysteine concentrations (tHcy) and increased plasma levels of proinflammatory acute-phase proteins. It has been suggested that these factors promote atherogenesis and therefore could mechanistically explain why people infected with Hp might have an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Therefore we evaluated the association between Hp-infection, concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), and status of various B vitamins in apparently healthy subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 69 subjects with proved Hp-infection and 21 healthy control subjects identified in a cross sectional study, blood samples were collected to determine serum folate, serum vitamin B12, serum methylmalonic acid (MMA), serum CRP and plasma vitamin B6 and plasma total homocysteine (tHcy). RESULTS: The mean concentration of CRP was significantly higher in the Hp-positive collective than in controls. Although mean concentrations of vitamin B12, B6, and MMA differed between the groups, statistical significance was missed. However, the mean concentrations of homocysteine and folic acid were nearly the same in both groups. In univariate analysis a significant impact of Hp-status was shown on cobalamin (p=0.028; eta square: 0.055), and in multivariate analysis of variance the Hp-status had an impact on vitamin B12-values (p=0.028; eta square 0.057). CONCLUSIONS: In this study Hp-infection shows no significant impact on status of B vitamins, but has a significant influence on CRP concentration. However, this study does not support the hypothesis that Hp-infection is related to CVD via elevated levels of tHcy.