Impact of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Metabolic and Physiological Parameters Among Young Adults Individuals.

Background/

Objectives

Helicobacter pylori infection is traditionally associated with gastrointestinal diseases; however, increasing evidence suggests that it may have systemic effects involving inflammatory, metabolic, and hematological pathways. Despite this, integrated evaluations of these domains remain limited, particularly in Middle Eastern populations. This study aimed to assess the impact of H. pylori infection on inflammatory, metabolic, and hematological parameters among adults.

Methods

A case-control study was conducted including 100 participants (50 H. pylori-positive patients and 50 healthy controls) recruited from Qassim Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and blood samples were analyzed for random blood sugar (RBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hemoglobin, ferritin, and white blood cell count (WBC). Statistical analyses included group comparisons, Spearman correlation, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

The infected group showed significantly higher levels of RBS and HbA1c, indicating impaired glycemic control. Inflammatory markers (CRP and ESR) were also significantly elevated compared to controls (p < 0.001). Hemoglobin and ferritin levels were significantly lower in the infected group (p < 0.001), suggesting disturbed iron metabolism. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between inflammatory markers and glycemic indices, and negative associations with hemoglobin and ferritin. Multivariable logistic regression identified CRP (adjusted OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.04-1.71) and ESR (adjusted OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.16) as independent predictors of H. pylori infection after adjustment for smoking status and fast-food consumption. The combined model demonstrated acceptable discriminatory performance with an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.74-0.90).

Conclusions

Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with significant inflammatory, metabolic, and hematological alterations, supporting its potential role as a systemic condition beyond the gastrointestinal tract. These associations remained significant after adjustment for major lifestyle-related confounders, including smoking status and fast-food consumption. Although the combined inflammatory model demonstrated acceptable discriminatory performance, it should currently be considered mainly for research or preliminary screening purposes and not as a replacement for established diagnostic methods for active H. pylori infection. Further large-scale longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted to clarify causality and evaluate the impact of eradication therapy on systemic outcomes.