Leptin and ghrelin in relation to Helicobacter pylori status in adult males.

Context: Leptin and ghrelin, hormones involved in human energy homeostasis, are both produced in the stomach.

Objective: We sought to determine whether the presence of Helicobacter pylori affects gastric and systemic levels of leptin and ghrelin.

Design, Setting, And Patients: We consecutively enrolled 256 patients referred for upper endoscopy at a Veterans Affairs outpatient endoscopy center.