The Association between Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Metabolic Syndrome in a Taiwanese Adult Population

Objectives: The global prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection remains high. Recent studies demonstrated the potential relationship among H. pylori-induced chronic inflammation, insulin resistance and metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and metabolic syndrome (MetS).Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 4,232 health examination participants aged from 30 to 65-year-old in the northern Taiwan in 10 years. The general information and blood tests of all subjects were collected from the health examination center. H. pylori infection was diagnosed via 13C-urea breath test. The log-transformed (log) serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was used as the inflammatory parameter. MetS was defined according to the revised National Cholesterol Educational Program Adult Treatment Panel III (Revised NCEP ATP III) criteria. Subjects were divided into two groups based on their H. pylori infectious status. The association between H. pylori infection and metabolic parameters was assessed with multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: A total of 4,232 subjects (2,641 males and 1,591 females, aged 47.0 years ± 8.2 years) were enrolled for the analysis. H. pylori infection presented in 44.8% of all subjects. MetS presented in 27.6% of all subjects. Participants with H. pylori infection showed higher proportion of MetS, higher body mass index(BMI) and higher serum cholesterol(T-CHO) levels with statistical significance (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the log serum hs-CRP between subjects with and without H. pylori infection. H. pylori infection increased the risk of large waist circumference component [OR=1.26 (1.10-1.43)] and high fasting plasma glucose component [OR=1.18 (1.04-1.34)], and contributed significantly to the presence of MetS with adjusted OR 1.23 (1.03-1.46).Conclusions: Adults with H. pylori infection was associated with higher prevalence of MetS, higher BMI and higher mean serum T-CHO levels. Furthermore, H. pylori infection was identified as a risk factor for MetS.