Detrimental relevance of Helicobacter pylori infection with sarcopenia

Shou-En Wu,Wei-Liang Chen

doi:10.1186/s13099-021-00464-y

Shou-En Wu, Wei-Liang Chen

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-021-00464-y

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Abstract

BackgroundHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori), Gram negative microaerophilic bacteria, is a well-known pathogen of many gastrointestinal diseases. But several emerging evidences suggest it role in numerous other extra-gastric diseases. The current study investigates the relationship between H. pylori infection and sarcopenia, a clinical condition characterized by the loss of mass and function of skeletal muscle. A total of 3453 eligible participants from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), the United States, were enrolled. Based on the serum laboratory results, subjects were categorized into three groups: normal (without evidence of any H. pylori infection), anti-H. pylori IgG positive [H. pylori (+)], and concurrent anti-H. pylori IgG and anti-cytotoxin-associated gene A IgG positive [CagA (+)]. Sarcopenia was determined as having a skeletal muscle index (SMI) value that is more than 1 standard deviation away from the mean value of sex-specific, healthy young adults between 20 and 39 years old. Risk of sarcopenia and its components are compared between subgroups.ResultsOdds ratios (OR) for confirmed diagnosis of sarcopenia were higher in H. pylori (+) (OR = 2.052, 95% CI 1.697–2.481, p < 0.001) and CagA (+) (OR = 1.585, 95% CI 1.278–1.965, p < 0.001) groups. Moreover, negative beta regression coefficient of SMI were shown in H. pylori (+) (β: − 0.023, p < 0.001) and CagA (+) (β: − 0.017, p < 0.001). Sub-analyses which categorized participants by gender revealed that absolute value of beta regression coefficient for SMI were higher in female in H. pylori (+) subgroup (β: − 1.745 in male and − 2.942 in female, p were both < 0.001), and the CagA (+) subgroup (β: − 1.407 in male and − 2.159 in female, p were both < 0.001).ConclusionsPositive serum H. pylori infectious markers including anti-H. pylori antibody and CagA seropositivity are correlated with sarcopenia and low muscle quantity. Therefore, H. pylori eradication therapy may bring benefits to sarcopenia patients with concurrent active H. pylori infection.

Highlights

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), Gram negative microaerophilic bacteria, is a well-known pathogen of many gastrointestinal diseases
Most parameters including gait speed, body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels or fasting glucose levels showed no statistical difference among groups
The proportion of non-Hispanic black and Mexican–American were higher in the cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) (+) and H. pylori (+) groups compared with the normal group (p < 0.001)

Summary

Introduction

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), Gram negative microaerophilic bacteria, is a well-known pathogen of many gastrointestinal diseases. Aside from being a Recently, societal aging has raised much health concern, including the increasing prevalence of sarcopenia, Wu and Chen Gut Pathogens (2021) 13:67 a muscle-related disorder that raises severe public health concern such as disability, falls, hospitalization, and mortality elderly population [10, 11]. This arouses our interest of whether muscle, an extra-gastric organ, possesses an association with H. pylori. The aim of the present study is exploring the relationship between serum H. pylori infectious markers and sarcopenia

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