U.T. Researcher Links Stomach Bacteria to Iron Deficiency
and Other Anemia
A study published in Jan. 15 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology reports a link between H. pylori infection and iron deficiency, as well as other related types of anemia in the United States. Lead author Victor M. Cardenas, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of epidemiology at The University of Texas School of Public Health’s El Paso Regional Campus, said the connection occurs even in the absence of peptic ulcer disease, which can cause iron-deficiency anemia through hemorrhage.
Researchers analyzed data on 7,462 subjects in a representative, nationwide sample of the U.S. population who were at least three years of age. When H. pylori infection was found, it raised the prevalence of iron deficiency by nearly one-half and iron-deficiency anemia by a factor of 2.6.
“There are few small trials, and none in the contiguous United States, that have attempted testing whether indeed this relation is causal,” said Cardenas.
Cardenas and co-authors Assistant Professor of Epidemiology Zuber D. Mulla, Ph.D., and Professor of Biometry Melchor Ortiz, Ph.D. – both at the regional campus in El Paso – are partnering with colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Tech and The University of Texas at El Paso in a new research proposal.
“To get to the bottom of this, we want to test this hypothesis in a randomized intervention trial in children 3-9 years of age, who are the most likely target of a potential intervention aiming to seek and treat H. pylori infection among anemic children,” said Cardenas. “Our proposal is being seriously considered for funding.”
Helicobacter pylori infection affects about one third of U.S. adults. The bacterium has previously been found to cause stomach inflammation and most ulcers, as well as increasing the risk of stomach cancer.