Is There a Relationship Between <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection and Anthropometric Status?

<b>Background:</b> <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection, overweight, and obesity are global health concerns. This bacterium is involved in the pathophysiology of chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. Additionally, overweight and obesity, associated with unhealthy eating habit...

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Main Authors: Lilian Camaño Carballo, Alejandro Ernesto Lorenzo Hidalgo, Paola Andrea Romero Riaño, Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez, Daniela Alejandra Loaiza Martínez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Gastrointestinal Disorders
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5647/7/1/21
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author Lilian Camaño Carballo
Alejandro Ernesto Lorenzo Hidalgo
Paola Andrea Romero Riaño
Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez
Daniela Alejandra Loaiza Martínez
author_facet Lilian Camaño Carballo
Alejandro Ernesto Lorenzo Hidalgo
Paola Andrea Romero Riaño
Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez
Daniela Alejandra Loaiza Martínez
author_sort Lilian Camaño Carballo
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection, overweight, and obesity are global health concerns. This bacterium is involved in the pathophysiology of chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. Additionally, overweight and obesity, associated with unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles, cause alterations in the gut microbiota that facilitate gastric colonization by <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>. Moreover, individuals with obesity tend to consume low-quality foods due to episodes of anxiety and exhibit elevated insulin levels, which may promote the development of gastric neoplasms. Studies conducted in Latin America have found that over 50% of participants are infected with <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, a situation similar to that reported in Ecuador, where the prevalence of overweight and obesity in individuals aged 19 to 59 years reached 64.58% in 2018. Both health issues are influenced by the high consumption of processed foods or those prepared under inadequate hygiene conditions. <b>Methods:</b> In this context, this research aimed to correlate the body composition of university students with the prevalence of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>. An observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted with 57 Nursing, Medicine, and Psychology students from Universidad Indoamérica, Ambato campus, during 2024. Fecal samples were analyzed to detect the presence of the bacterium, and anthropometric measurements were taken to establish a possible relationship between these parameters. <b>Results:</b> Of the 57 students who participated, 54.39% tested positive for <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>. However, the presence of the bacteria did not show any relationship with body composition parameters such as fat mass, lean mass, BMI, weight, height, or age. <b>Conclusions:</b> The study found no evidence of a connection between <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection and anthropometric parameters in this university population. However, the high incidence of infections highlights the importance of promoting the consumption of safe food and ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment.
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series Gastrointestinal Disorders
spelling doaj-art-7ba3d81672e64247b68682991e4e0beb2025-08-20T02:11:14ZengMDPI AGGastrointestinal Disorders2624-56472025-03-01712110.3390/gidisord7010021Is There a Relationship Between <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection and Anthropometric Status?Lilian Camaño Carballo0Alejandro Ernesto Lorenzo Hidalgo1Paola Andrea Romero Riaño2Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez3Daniela Alejandra Loaiza Martínez4Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud y Bienestar Humano, Carrera de Enfermería, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Ambato 180101, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias de la Salud y Bienestar Humano, Carrera de Medicina, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Ambato 180101, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias de la Salud y Bienestar Humano, Carrera de Enfermería, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Ambato 180101, EcuadorDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, SpainFacultad de Ciencias de la Salud y Bienestar Humano, Carrera de Medicina, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Ambato 180101, Ecuador<b>Background:</b> <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection, overweight, and obesity are global health concerns. This bacterium is involved in the pathophysiology of chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. Additionally, overweight and obesity, associated with unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles, cause alterations in the gut microbiota that facilitate gastric colonization by <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>. Moreover, individuals with obesity tend to consume low-quality foods due to episodes of anxiety and exhibit elevated insulin levels, which may promote the development of gastric neoplasms. Studies conducted in Latin America have found that over 50% of participants are infected with <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, a situation similar to that reported in Ecuador, where the prevalence of overweight and obesity in individuals aged 19 to 59 years reached 64.58% in 2018. Both health issues are influenced by the high consumption of processed foods or those prepared under inadequate hygiene conditions. <b>Methods:</b> In this context, this research aimed to correlate the body composition of university students with the prevalence of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>. An observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted with 57 Nursing, Medicine, and Psychology students from Universidad Indoamérica, Ambato campus, during 2024. Fecal samples were analyzed to detect the presence of the bacterium, and anthropometric measurements were taken to establish a possible relationship between these parameters. <b>Results:</b> Of the 57 students who participated, 54.39% tested positive for <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>. However, the presence of the bacteria did not show any relationship with body composition parameters such as fat mass, lean mass, BMI, weight, height, or age. <b>Conclusions:</b> The study found no evidence of a connection between <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection and anthropometric parameters in this university population. However, the high incidence of infections highlights the importance of promoting the consumption of safe food and ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5647/7/1/21<i>Helicobacter pylori</i>body compositionobesitynutrition
spellingShingle Lilian Camaño Carballo
Alejandro Ernesto Lorenzo Hidalgo
Paola Andrea Romero Riaño
Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez
Daniela Alejandra Loaiza Martínez
Is There a Relationship Between <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection and Anthropometric Status?
Gastrointestinal Disorders
<i>Helicobacter pylori</i>
body composition
obesity
nutrition
title Is There a Relationship Between <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection and Anthropometric Status?
title_full Is There a Relationship Between <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection and Anthropometric Status?
title_fullStr Is There a Relationship Between <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection and Anthropometric Status?
title_full_unstemmed Is There a Relationship Between <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection and Anthropometric Status?
title_short Is There a Relationship Between <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection and Anthropometric Status?
title_sort is there a relationship between i helicobacter pylori i infection and anthropometric status
topic <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>
body composition
obesity
nutrition
url https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5647/7/1/21
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