Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in Helicobacter pylori infected patients in Jordan

Abstract

Saad Al-Fawaeir, Mohammad Abu Zaid

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the frequency of vitamin B 12 deficiency in patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection to determine whether low serum vitamin B12 levels correlate with serological evidence of H. pylori infection. Background: An association between H. pylori infection and vitamin B12 deficiency has been recently reported. Subjects: From 200 people blood was collected. For each subject serum vitamin B12, folic acid, complete blood count and H. pylori IgG antibodies were measured. 150 subjects have H. pylori infection and 50 subjects healthy control group. The following cases were excluded, history of H. pylori eradication or antacid take, liver disease, chronic alcoholism inflammatory bowel disease, previous gastrointestinal surgery and a vegetarian diet or multivitamin supplementation. Results: Vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 87(58%) patients with seropositive H. pylori IgG antibodies (HP+) versus 9 (18%) patients with seronegative H. pylori IgG antibodies (HP). The mean±SD of serum vitamin B12 level in overall subjects (males and females) was 345.717± 215.214 and 271.254±35.234 (p < 0.01) respectively. The mean±SD of serum vitamin B12 level in H. pylori infected subjects was 295,574±71,482 versus 411,973±368,241in healthy group (p < 0.02). The mean±SD of serum vitamin B 12 level in overall H. pylori infected subjects with vitamin B12 deficiency (male and female) was 142±24.423 and 144.322±18.736 (p < 0.02) where it was 565.197±149.488 and 615.33±139.981 with normal serum vitamin B12 level in the same group. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly lower in H. pylori positive subjects, hemoglobin (g/dL) was 13.5±0.15 mean±SD versus 14.2±0.25, p < 0.05 and hematocrit (%) 40.1±0.35 versus 42 ±0.7 p < 0.05, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) (μm3 ) was 95±2 versus 85±2. Folic acid levels (normal range 4.6-12.7 ng/ml) were significantly lower in H. pylori seropositive subjects (5.65±0.2 versus 9.1±0.5 p < 0.05). Conclusion: Collectible results suggest a causal relationship between H. pylori infection and vitamin B12 deficiency in Jordanians.