Abstract
Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the most common infections in humans. The rate of H. pylori infection and its complications are increasing with age worldwide. Many articles have published on the fascinating topic of extra-gastroduodenal manifestations of H. pylori infection, most of which are commonly seen in elderly population.
Aim: To investigate the effect of H. pylori infection on nutrition, metabolism, cognition, and serum vitamin B12 in the elderly.
Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 30 elderly patients with H. pylori infection diagnosed by stool antigen test and 30 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex and socioeconomic status. Full history, complete physical examination, anthropometric measurements, laboratory parameters (routine laboratory investigation, metabolic parameters, serum iron level, serum vitamin B12 level), and HOMA-IR score. Moreover, all participants fulfilled the mini mental state examination (MMSE) questionnaire and mini nutritional assessment (MNA) questionnaire.
Results: the results show that patients with H. pylori infection had significantly lower hemoglobin level, lower serum iron level, lower vitamin B12 level, higher insulin level, and higher prevalence of insulin resistance (defined as a HOMA-IR score ≥2.5). There were no significant differences between both groups regarding the mean MMSE score, the mean MNA score, or the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the definition of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.
Conclusion: H. pylori seems to be associated with iron deficiency anemia, vitamin 12 deficiency and insulin resistance in the elderly.