Inter-relações entre helicobacter pylori, sensação subjetiva de apetite e consumo alimentar

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection on the subjective appetite sensation and food intake of patients using the Unified Health System. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, carried out in two health units during the period from July 2012 to May 2013, which evaluated 14 Hp-positive and 24 Hp-negative subjects, totaling 38 patients who reported having only three main meals per day. The presence of infection was investigated through upper endoscopy. Food intake was investigated by means of two 24-hour recalls. Subjective appetite sensation was investigated with use of the Visual Analog Scale of Appetite (VAS). The patients were stratified as Hp-positive and Hp-negative. For all analyses, the significance level was p<0.05. Results: There was no significant difference in the energy and macronutrients intake, per meal, between the groups. The subjective appetite sensation before and after each meal was similar between groups, except for hunger (p=0.016) and satiety (p=0.008) at breakfast. The influence of the previous meal on the subsequent one was verified, these findings being more evident among the Hp-negative patients. Conclusion: The study showed homogeneity of the two evaluated groups in regard to food intake. The subjective appetite sensation is different between the groups on the topics hunger and satiety related to breakfast. The relationship between the sensations perceived by the end of a meal and the beginning of the subsequent one is more evident in Hp-negative.