Helicobacter pylori: Is it a risk factor for coronary heart disease?
Helicobacter pylori: Is it a risk factor for coronary heart disease?
EDITOR - J. Danesh and R. Peto recently published a meta-analysis of 18 studies concerning the relation of coronary heart disease and Helicobacter pylori (H. p.) infection . They found that body mass indices were significantly higher in seropositive subjects than in seronegatives. However their interpretation of this highly significant correlation was a result of "publication bias". This interpretation does not seem to be correct in our point of view. It is well known, that subjects with lower economic standards have a higher risk of H. p. infections, have a higher risk of overweigth and have a higher risk of coronary artery disease. So the correlation of high BMI and H. p. seropositiveness is certainly not a publication bias.
Another explanation for higher body mass indices in subjects with chronic H. p. infections may be due to fructose malabsorption. We recently published data, that showed, that chronic H. p. infection correlated with fructose malabsorption. . Fructose malabsorption is characterized by the inability to absorb fructose in the upper intestine sufficiently with the consequence of bloating, diarrhea, tryptophan depletion and hunger for carbohydrates It thus seems likely that the increase of BMI's is a consequence of an eating disorder which originates from chronic H. p. infection.
Ledochowski Maximilian (MD) 1) Probst-Braunsteiner Theresa (MD)2)
1) Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Innsbruck Medical School, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
2) Department of Gastroenterology, University of Innsbruck Medical School, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Word count: 216
Address for correspondence:
Dr. Maximilian Ledochowski
Universitätsklinik Innsbruck
Anichstraße 35
A-6020 Innsbruck
Austria
Phone: ++43-512-504-2019
Fax: ++43-512-504-2017
Email: Maximilian.Ledochowski@uibk.ac.at
Danesh J, Peto R. Risk factors for coronary heart disease and infection with Helicobacter pylori: meta-analysis of 18 studies. BMJ,1998; 316:1130-32.
Probst-Braunsteiner T, Ledochowski M, Probst A, Vogel W. Prävalenz der Fruktose- und Laktosemalabsorption und mögliche Assoziationen mit chronischen gastrointestinalen Erkrankungen. Z. Gastroenterol . 1998; in press.
Ledochowski M, Sperner-Unterweger B, Widner B, Fuchs D. Fructose Malabsorption is associated with early signs of mental depression. Eur.J.Med.Res 1998; 3:1-3.
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Helicobacter pylori: Is it a risk factor for coronary heart disease?
Helicobacter pylori: Is it a risk factor for coronary heart disease?
EDITOR - J. Danesh and R. Peto recently published a meta-analysis of 18 studies concerning the relation of coronary heart disease and Helicobacter pylori (H. p.) infection . They found that body mass indices were significantly higher in seropositive subjects than in seronegatives. However their interpretation of this highly significant correlation was a result of "publication bias". This interpretation does not seem to be correct in our point of view. It is well known, that subjects with lower economic standards have a higher risk of H. p. infections, have a higher risk of overweigth and have a higher risk of coronary artery disease. So the correlation of high BMI and H. p. seropositiveness is certainly not a publication bias.
Another explanation for higher body mass indices in subjects with chronic H. p. infections may be due to fructose malabsorption. We recently published data, that showed, that chronic H. p. infection correlated with fructose malabsorption. . Fructose malabsorption is characterized by the inability to absorb fructose in the upper intestine sufficiently with the consequence of bloating, diarrhea, tryptophan depletion and hunger for carbohydrates It thus seems likely that the increase of BMI's is a consequence of an eating disorder which originates from chronic H. p. infection.
Ledochowski Maximilian (MD) 1) Probst-Braunsteiner Theresa (MD)2)
1) Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Innsbruck Medical School, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
2) Department of Gastroenterology, University of Innsbruck Medical School, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Word count: 216
Address for correspondence:
Dr. Maximilian Ledochowski
Universitätsklinik Innsbruck
Anichstraße 35
A-6020 Innsbruck
Austria
Phone: ++43-512-504-2019
Fax: ++43-512-504-2017
Email: Maximilian.Ledochowski@uibk.ac.at
Danesh J, Peto R. Risk factors for coronary heart disease and infection with Helicobacter pylori: meta-analysis of 18 studies. BMJ,1998; 316:1130-32.
Probst-Braunsteiner T, Ledochowski M, Probst A, Vogel W. Prävalenz der Fruktose- und Laktosemalabsorption und mögliche Assoziationen mit chronischen gastrointestinalen Erkrankungen. Z. Gastroenterol . 1998; in press.
Ledochowski M, Sperner-Unterweger B, Widner B, Fuchs D. Fructose Malabsorption is associated with early signs of mental depression. Eur.J.Med.Res 1998; 3:1-3.
Competing interests: No competing interests