J Korean Med Sci.  2011 May;26(5):654-658. 10.3346/jkms.2011.26.5.654.

Helicobacter pylori Infection is Associated with Elevated Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Elderly Koreans

• Kim HL
• Jeon HH
• Park IY
• Choi JM
• Kang JS
• Min KW

• KMID: 1777865
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2011.26.5.654

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and the lipid profile among elderly Koreans. A total of 462 subjects (mean age 66.2 +/- 7.6 yr, 84% males) who underwent health check-up were investigated. Each subject underwent gastroduodenoscopy with gastric mucosal biopsy, and H. pylori infection was determined by histopathological examination using the updated Sydney System score. The presence of H. pylori infection was significantly associated with the elevated serum levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P < 0.05 for each) in univariate analysis. H. pylori infection was not associated with triglyceride and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (P > 0.05 for each). After controlling confounders, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio of H. pylori infection for high LDL cholesterol level (> 140 mg/dL) was 3.113 (95% confidence interval, 1.364-7.018; P = 0.007). There were no significant associations between the presence of H. pylori infection and elevated total cholesterol levels (> 200 mg/dL) in this model (P = 0.586). The results of this study demonstrate that H. pylori infection is associated with the elevated serum LDL cholesterol levels in elderly Koreans, supporting the hypothesis that H. pylori plays a role in promoting atherosclerosis by modifying lipid metabolism.

Keyword

Helicobacter pylori; Cholesterol, LDL

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Atherosclerosis/microbiology
Cholesterol, LDL/*blood
Endoscopy
Female
Gastric Mucosa/anatomy & histology/microbiology
Gastritis
Helicobacter Infections/*blood/*epidemiology
*Helicobacter pylori
Humans
Inflammation/microbiology
Male
Middle Aged
Peptic Ulcer
Republic of Korea/epidemiology

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Helicobacter pylori gastritis in endoscopic biopsy. The degree of H. pylori infection is shown according to the updated Sydney classification; none (A), mild (B), moderate (C), and severe (D) (Giemsa staining, × 400).

• 

  Fig. 2 Blood LDL cholesterol levels according to the degree of Helicobactor pylori infection. As H. pylori severity increases, blood LDL cholesterol levels also increase gradually. LDL cholesterol levels were 121.3 ± 30.6, 132.7 ± 30.5 and 153.0 ± 35.1 mg/dL in the absence of H. pylori infection, and mild or moderate and severe degrees of H. pylori infection, respectively. *P < 0.01 versus other two groups by Bonferroni post-hoc analysis. LDL, low density lipoprotein; ANOVA, analysis of variance.

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