Response of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication Treatment in Patients With Normal and Below-Normal Serum Vitamin D Levels

Abstract

The infection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is affected by the host immune system and the genetic makeup. It is postulated that deficiency of vitamin D may interfere in normal immunological response to infectious agents, including H. pylori, and increase the risk of infection. This study aims to find the relationship between vitamin D status in the body and patient's response to H. pylori eradication treatment. MethodsOne hundred and fifty patients (n = 150) between the ages of 18 and 60 years of either gender, diagnosed with H. pylori, were included in the study. After enrollment, patients were started on first-line eradication therapy, which included omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin for 14 days. Patient's vitamin D levels were tested via laboratory. After 14 days, patients' stools were tested for presence of H. pylori antigen. ResultsA total of 128 participants completed the study, out of which 92 (71.8%) participants showed no H. pylori antigen in stool after 14 days and 36 (28.1%) participants still showed H. pylori in their stool. The mean serum vitamin D level was significantly higher in participants who had successful treatment compared to those who had unsuccessful treatment (31.01 ± 7.8 ng/mL vs. 18.9 ± 5.6 ng/mL; p-value < 0.0001). ConclusionVitamin D levels may affect the response of H. pylori eradication therapy. Further large-scale studies are needed in which vitamin D is given as an intervention to further study the association between vitamin D levels and H. pylori treatment response.

Vitamin D and Its Association with H. pylori Prevalence and Eradication: A Comprehensive Review

“…This theory was tested using a classical clarithromycin-based triple eradication therapy of 14 days duration [ 20 ]. Magsi et al also reported an even higher, ascending discrepancy in vitamin D levels between H. pylori infected patients that responded to the same therapeutic regimen and those who did not [ 46 ]. Similar findings were reported by Almani et al in their study, in which the identical, classical therapeutic scheme failed to eradicate H. pylori infection in more than 80% of patients with vitamin D levels below 30 ng/mL [ 47 ].…”

Vitamins and Helicobacter pylori: An Updated Comprehensive Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

“…The effects of H. pylori eradication on serum vitamin levels have aroused extensive interest. Several studies ( 2 , 57 – 59 ) found that patients that underwent successful H. pylori eradication had higher serum vitamin D levels than patients with in which eradication failed. Several studies ( 13 , 14 , 60 , 61 ) described vitamin B 12 level discrepancies before and after successful H. pylori eradication therapy; nevertheless, there were also inconsistent results.…”

“…Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) is a gastric gram-negative, spiral-shaped microaerophilic pathogen ( 1 ). About half of the global population is infected with H. pylori , and the infection rate in developing countries is higher than in developed countries ( 2 , 3 ). H. pylori is the main risk for chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue–associated lymphoma ( 4 – 6 ).…”