Study: H. pylori may be linked to diabetes risk

NEW YORK — A bacterium found in the stomach may be associated with diabetes, according to a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Using data from two National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, researchers Yu Chen and Martin Glaser of the New York University School of Medicine conducted a cross-sectional analyses of 7,417 participants from NHANES III (ages 18 years and older) and 6,072 participants in NHANES 1999-2000 ages 3 years and older to assess the association between Helicobacter pylori and HbA1C levels. The researchers found that while there was no association between H. pylori and history of self-reported diabetes, they did find that "data [confirmed] expected associations of demographic and lifestyle factors with HbA1C and H. pylori status and suggest a relationship between H. pylori and [body mass index]," noting the association was strongest among obese people.

"The findings indicated a role of H. pylori in impaired glucose tolerance in adults that may be potentiated by higher BMI level ... Future studies with accurate information on diagnosis of diabetes are needed to evaluate the association between H. pylori and diabetes," Chen and Glaser concluded.

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