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Vitamin D deficiency and risk of Helicobacter pylori infection in older adults: a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Background

Vitamin D deficiency is known to cause increased predisposition to various infectious diseases and the addition of vitamin D to antimicrobial treatment may improve treatment responses. However, the relationship between vitamin D and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) remains to be determined.

Aims

To assess the association between vitamin D deficiency and H. pylori infection.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included patients aged 65 and over, who underwent gastroscopy and had gastric biopsy performed between 2010 and 2017. Of the 441 patients, 254 had available 25-hydroxyvitamin D level results and were included in the analyses. Patients were categorized into H. pylori (+) and H. pylori (−) groups, according to histopathological examination results of gastric biopsies. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels less than 20 ng/mL were defined as vitamin D deficiency.

Results

Of all patients, 43 were H. pylori (+) and 211 were H. pylori (−). More patients had vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/mL) in the H. pylori (+) group than the H. pylori (−) group (86% vs 67.3%, p = 0.014). The proportion of H. pylori (+) patients decreased across increasing quartiles of 25(OH) vitamin D levels (p for trend = 0.010). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased odds of H. pylori infection after adjustment for age, gender, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR = 3.02, 95% CI 1.19–7.69, p = 0.020).

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency can be associated with increased risk of H. pylori infection. The potential protective effect of vitamin D against H. pylori infection and its possible role in the treatment of H. pylori should be evaluated in prospective trials.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatrics, Ibni-i Sina Hospital, Ankara University School of Medicine, 06230, Ankara, Turkey

    Deniz Mut Surmeli, Remzi Bahsi, Tugba Turgut, Hande Selvi Oztorun, Murat Varli & Sevgi Aras

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Medical Park Hospital, 06680, Ankara, Turkey

    Zeki Gokhan Surmeli

  3. Department of Geriatrics, Bursa Sevket Yilmaz Training and Research Hospital, 16310, Bursa, Turkey

    Volkan Atmis

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  1. Deniz Mut Surmeli
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  2. Zeki Gokhan Surmeli
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Correspondence to Deniz Mut Surmeli.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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This study was approved by institutional ethical board of Ankara University and was conducted in compliance with Declaration of Helsinki.

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Mut Surmeli, D., Surmeli, Z.G., Bahsi, R. et al. Vitamin D deficiency and risk of Helicobacter pylori infection in older adults: a cross-sectional study. Aging Clin Exp Res 31, 985–991 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-1039-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-1039-1

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