The few published studies on the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and metabolic homeostasis were relatively small and yielded inconsistent results. We examined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in relation to H. pylori infection and its symptoms in a large and unselected population. Coded data from the computerised database of a large health maintenance organisation in Israel were accessed for 147,936 individuals 25–95 years of age who performed the urea breath test during 2002–2012. The classification of metabolic syndrome followed a modified definition of the international diabetes federation. Prevalences of H. pylori infection and metabolic syndrome were 52.0% and 11.4% respectively. H. pylori infected patients had increased likelihood of metabolic syndrome: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.15 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.10–1.19), as did patients with gastric ulcer: aOR 1.15 (95% CI 1.03–1.28) vs patients without these conditions. Duodenal ulcer was associated with metabolic syndrome only in persons aged 25–34 years: aOR 1.59 (95% CI 1.19-2.13), but not in older persons (P = 0.001 for heterogeneity). In conclusion, the likelihood of metabolic syndrome appeared significantly increased in relation to H. pylori infection and gastric and duodenal ulcers. These findings suggest that H. pylori long-term gastric inflammation might play a role in metabolic homeostasis.

BackgroundEvidence is conflicting regarding the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and diabetes mellitus. The study objective was to examine associations of H. pylori infection, gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers, with diabetes mellitus.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was undertaken using coded data from the computerized database of Maccabi Health Services in Israel, on 147,936 individuals aged 25–95 years who underwent the urea breath test during 2002–2012. Multiple logistic regression models were conducted, while adjusting for known risk factors for diabetes mellitus.ResultsA H. pylori positive test was recorded for 76,992 (52.0%) individuals and diabetes for 12,207 (8.3%). The prevalence of diabetes was similar in individuals with and without H. pylori infection, but this association was modified (P for heterogeneity 0.049) by body mass index (BMI): adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.16 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.04–1.29) in persons with BMI<25 kg/m2 versus aOR 1.03 (95% CI 0.98–1.08) in persons with BMI≥25 kg/m2. Diabetes mellitus prevalence was higher in persons with gastric (aOR 1.20 (95% CI 1.06–1.34)) and duodenal ulcers (aOR 1.20 (95% CI 1.12–1.28)) compared to persons without these diagnoses.ConclusionsIn this large population-based study, we demonstrated significant positive associations, albeit of small magnitude, of H. pylori infection and peptic disease with diabetes. The long-term gastric inflammation and associated-damage to the gastric mucosa might play a role in such associations.