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Serum Ferritin, Vitamin B12, Folate, and Zinc Levels in Children Infected with Helicobacter pylori

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Abstract

We sought to explore the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and serum ferritin, vitamin B12, folate, and zinc status among children. Fifty patients aged 5–18 years who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy because of dyspeptic symptoms, were studied, prospectively. Patients were grouped as H. pylori positive (group 1, n=32) or H. pylori negative (group 2, n=18) by histopathologic examination and rapid urease test. Fasting serum ferritin, vitamin B12, folate, and zinc levels of patients were measured. Both groups were indifferent according to age, gender, height standard deviation score (HSDS), and weight standard deviation score (WSDS). Serum ferritin levels were 33±26 and 50±46 ng/mL (P=.098), vitamin B12 levels were 303±135 and 393±166 pg/mL (P=.042), folate levels were 9.64±3.2 and 9.61±2.8 ng/mL (P=.979), and zinc levels were 95±48 and 87±31 μg/dL (P=.538), in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Ferritin levels of 14 (43.8%) patients in group 1 and 6 (33.3%) patients in group 2 were below the normal range (P=.470). Serum vitamin B12 levels of 9 children (28%) in group 1 and 2 children (11%) in group 2 were below the normal range (P=.287). The findings of the present study suggest that H. pylori infection has a negative effect on serum ferritin and vitamin B12 levels in children. This negative effect on vitamin B12 levels is rather marked in contrast to that on ferritin levels. H. pylori infection has no significant effect on serum folate or zinc levels among children.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Kezban Özkalay, Şehriban Karakaya, and Nehime Kara for their help and cooperation; and Dr Hakan Gülkesen for help in statistical analysis. This study was supported by Akdeniz University Research Projects Unit.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Akdeniz University, Medical School, Antalya, Turkey, 07059

    Mustafa Akcam, Aygen Yilmaz & Reha Artan

  2. Department of Central Lab, Biochemistry Unit, Akdeniz University, Medical School, Antalya, Turkey

    Sebahat Ozdem

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Akdeniz University, Medical School, Antalya, Turkey

    Meral Gultekin

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  1. Mustafa Akcam
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  2. Sebahat Ozdem
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  3. Aygen Yilmaz
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  4. Meral Gultekin
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  5. Reha Artan
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Correspondence to Mustafa Akcam.

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Akcam, M., Ozdem, S., Yilmaz, A. et al. Serum Ferritin, Vitamin B12, Folate, and Zinc Levels in Children Infected with Helicobacter pylori . Dig Dis Sci 52, 405–410 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9422-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9422-8

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