The Role of Trace Elements in Helicobacter Pylori Infected Patients

Objective: To evaluate the effect of trace elements in patients with Helicobacter pylori associated chronic gastritis Design: Prospective study Settings: Clinical services of the clinical microbiology and infectious diseases and gastroenterology clinics at Dicle University, Turkey Subjects:A total of 92 patients with variable severity of chronic gastritis (45 Helicobacter pylori positive and 47 Helicobacter pylori negative gastritis) and 90 age and sex matched healthy subjects were included in the study conducted between October 2006 and November 2008. Intervention: Histopathologic examination, culture of Helicobacter pylori and urease tests were performed for each patient. The atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used in the measurement of trace elements in the serum. Main Outcome Measures: Serum copper and zinc levels were significantly elevated in patients with Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis compared to Helicobacter pylori negative gastritis and healthy controls (p < 0.0001). Serum copper, zinc and Cu / Zn levels in patients with Helicobacter pylori negative chronic gastritis was not significantly different from the serum levels in healthy controls (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest a relationship between Helicobacter pylori associated chronic gastritis and the elevation of trace element levels in serum. This study confirms that the elevation of trace element levels in serum (Cu and Zn levels) will be helpful in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori associated chronic gastritis in the abscence of invasive procedures, and is useful in predicting the severity of infection in patients with chronic gastritis.