ABSTRACT
Helicobacter pylon [HP] plays a fundamental role in gastric inflammation and gastric adenocarcinoma. A number of studies have suggested that HP infection may affect the homeostasis of different important micronutrients. Is to study iron, copper, selenium, vitamins A, E, and C in serum and gastric biopsies in patients with HP infection to clarify the effect of HP infection on the homeostasis of these micronutrients. This work included 35 patients, classified into two groups: group I consisted of 25 patients positive for HP as detected by rapid urease test, while group II consisted of 10 patients negative for HP. All patients had undergone esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Multiple antral biopsies were taken for rapid urease test, PCR for urease and Cag genes, and for histopathological examination. Trace elements were studied in serum as well as in gastric biopsies. Results showed that serum iron and serum ascorbic acid were significantly lower in group I than in group II [62. 5 +/- 10.5 versus 78.5 +/- 19.68 u micro/dl] [p=0.045] and [32.5 +/- 4.25 versus 115.5 +/- 29.8 mg/I] [p=0.0001] respectively. In gastric biopsies it was found thai copper, vitamin A and vitamin C were significantly lower in groupl than in group II [20.8 +/- 4.21 versus 28.6 +/- 7.98miicro g/mg [p=0.0098], 170. 6 +/- 2 and 6 versus 189.6+50.1 ug/gm [p=0.042], 422.6 +/- 49.8 versus 552.6 +/- 68.2 mg/gm] [p=0.01] respectively. Only tissue selenium was higher in group 1 than in group 11[20.3 +/- 3.98 versus 14.65 +/- 2.98 micro g/gm] [p=0.01]. HP infection is associated with disturbed metabolism of iron, copper, selenium, vitamin A and vitamin C. Moreover, the progression of HP pathological outcome from superficial gastritis to chronic atrophic gastritis is associated with disturbed homeostasis of some micronutrients, most notably vitamin C and selenium. This disturbance is more pronounced in patients with Cag positive strains than in Cag negative strains of HP