Irregular Meal Timing Is Associated with Helicobacter pylori Infection and Gastritis.

Su-Lin Lim,Yiong-Huak Chan,Feng Zhu,Khay-Guan Yeoh,Min-Htet Zaw,Wai-Chiong Loke,Claudia Canavarro

doi:10.5402/2013/714970

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is associated with chronic gastritis and gastric cancer, and more than half of the world's population is chronically infected. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate whether an irregular meal pattern is associated with increased risk of gastritis and HP infection. The study involved 323 subjects, divided into three groups as follows: subjects with HP infection and gastritis, subjects with gastritis, and a control group. Subjects were interviewed on eating habits and meal timing. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare groups. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) were derived controlling for gender, age, stress, and probiotic consumption. Subjects who deviated from their regular meals by 2 hours or more had a significantly higher incidence of HP infection with gastritis (adjusted OR = 13.3; 95% CI 5.3–33.3; P < 0.001) and gastritis (adjusted OR = 6.1; 95% CI 2.5–15.0; P < 0.001). Subjects who deviated their meals by 2 hours or more, twice or more per week, had an adjusted OR of 6.3 and 3.5 of acquiring HP infection with gastritis (95% CI 2.6–15.2; P < 0.001) and gastritis (95% CI 1.5–8.5; P < 0.001), respectively. Frequent deviation in meal timing over a prolonged period appears associated with increased risk of developing HP infection and gastritis.

Highlights

Since the discovery of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in the 1980s, considerable attention has been given to this bacterium as a cause of gastritis and an established risk factor for gastric cancer [1,2,3]
Subjects who deviated from their regular meals by 2 hours or more had a signi cantly higher incidence of HP infection with gastritis and gastritis
A deviation in meal timing of equal to or more than 2 hours was associated with a signi cant risk of developing HP with gastritis or gastritis, with an adjusted odds ratios (OR) of 13.3 and 6.1, respectively. e adjusted OR for developing HP with gastritis and gastritis increased as the frequency of meal deviation increased (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Since the discovery of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in the 1980s, considerable attention has been given to this bacterium as a cause of gastritis and an established risk factor for gastric cancer [1,2,3]. Helicobacter pylori is known to chronically infect more than half of the world’s population [4]. Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with a complex interaction between genetic [6], socioeconomic [7], environmental [8], and bacterial factors [9]. Due to the close association between HP, gastritis and gastric cancer, it is of interest to decrease the occurrence of HP infection and gastritis. Is study aims to determine whether a prolonged irregular meal pattern is associated with increased risk of gastritis and HP infection There is a scarcity of published literature on the impact of irregular meals on HP infection or gastritis. is study aims to determine whether a prolonged irregular meal pattern is associated with increased risk of gastritis and HP infection

Methods

Results

Conclusion