Is Helicobacter pylori infection a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children?

Eur J Pediatr

Paediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Champollion Street El-Khartoum Square, Azarita Medical Campus 21311, Alexandria, Egypt.

Published: November 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study investigates the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children, using a case-control design to explore factors influencing NAFLD grades.
  • Results show a significantly higher prevalence of H. pylori infection in children with NAFLD (64%) compared to a control group (25%), indicating a potential link between the two conditions.
  • Key independent predictors for NAFLD identified in the study include H. pylori positivity, insulin resistance, waist circumference, and triglyceride levels, with H. pylori's CagA positivity correlating with higher grades of NAFLD.

Article Abstract

Unlabelled: Helicobacter pylori infection has been investigated as a potential risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Some studies suggest a possible link between the two conditions. The purpose of this study is to study the relationship between H. pylori infection and NAFLD in pediatrics and its relation to NAFLD grades. A case-control study to identify predictors of NAFLD and a comparative cross-sectional approach to determine factors affecting NAFLD grades were adopted. One hundred NAFLD children (ultrasound-based) and a control group of 100 non-NAFLD children were recruited. Both groups were evaluated by detecting H. pylori stool antigen. Immunoglobulin G antibodies to Cag A (cytotoxin-associated gene A), Vac A (vacuolating cytotoxin A), Gro EL (chaperonin Gro EL), HCPC (Helicobacter cysteine-rich protein C), and Ure A (Urease subunit A) were assessed in the serum of those with positive stool antigen. H. pylori infection was significantly higher in NAFLD children compared to the control group (64% versus 25%, p-value < .001). (NAFLD children showed higher Cag A and Vac A positivity (34, 10%) versus (2%, 0%) in the control group, respectively, p-value < .001). The regression model showed that H. pylori positivity (OR (odds ratio) = 5.021, 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.105-22.815), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (Homa IR) (OR = 18.840, 95% CI: 3.998-88.789), waist percentile (OR = 1.184, 95% CI: 1.044-1.344), and triglycerides (OR = 1.029, 95% CI: 1.012-1.047) were predictors for NAFLD. Cag A positivity (OR = 2.740, 95% CI: 1.013-7.411) was associated with higher NAFLD grade (grade 2 fatty liver).

Conclusions: H. pylori infection could increase the risk of NAFLD in children. Triglycerides, waist circumference, and Homa IR are significant independent predictors of NAFLD.

What Is Known: • NAFLD has become one of the most common liver diseases among children because of the increased prevalence of pediatric obesity. • Dyslipidemia and insulin resistance play a central role in NAFLD pathogenesis. • NAFLD could be explained by the multiple-hit hypothesis. The gut microbiota is an important factor in this hypothesis (gut liver axis).

What Is New: • Helicobacter pylori infection could increase the risk of NAFLD in children. • H. pylori Cytotoxin-associated gene A (Cag A) positivity is associated with higher NAFLD grade.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11602778PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00431-024-05867-yDOI Listing

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