Helicobacter pylori Infection as a Risk Factor for Insulin Resistance

This study aimed to determine the relation between Helicobacter pylori infection and insulin resistance in healthy subjects. In a cross-sectional case control study between January and April 2007, a total of 71 healthy subjects without the exclusion criteria completed the study. Forty-three (60.6%) patients were H. pylori positive and 28 (39.4%) patients were H. pylori negative. Age and body mass index of the patients were not significantly different between the two groups (32.2 ± 14.2 vs. 33 ± 8.05 years and 23.15 ± 4.5 vs. 24.04 ± 3.2 kg/m², respectively). H-pylori-positive patients had significantly higher HOMA-IR level compared to H-pylori-negative patients (3.54 ± 2.2 vs. 2.46 ± 1.9, respectively) (P < 0.05). Fasting serum insulin level was significantly higher in the H-pylori-positive group compared with the H-pylori-negative group (19.41 ± 3.08 vs. 16.57 ± 2.02 μU/ml, respectively) (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest recognition of H. pylori infection as a risk factor for insulin resistance.