Gastric Bacterium Associated with Poor Blood Sugar Control

The presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori has been linked to higher levels of the diabetes biomarker glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).

Helicobacter pylori are gram-negative bacteria that colonize the human stomach and HbA1c is a biomarker that reflects integrated blood glucose levels during the preceding 3-4 months in patients with diabetes.

Scientists at New York University School of Medicine (NY, USA) conducted a cross sectional analysis of 7,417 participants from one study and 6,072 participants from another. The HbA1c measurements were performed using the Diamat Analyzer System or the CLC330/CLC 385 analyzer. Participants were tested for H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using a H. pylori IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and for cytotoxic associated protein (cagA) IgG with an in-house ELISA.

Among the overall population, those who were H. pylori–positive had higher mean HbA1c levels. The positive association was more apparent among those aged 18 years or more. In contrast, among those who were younger, there was no association between H. pylori and HbA1c levels. There was a progressive increase in HbA1c when comparing participants who were H. pylori–negative, H. pylori–positive/cagA-negative, and H. pylori–positive/cagA-positive subjects in the overall study population. The study, not only revealed the impact of H. pylori on the diabetes biomarker, but also how overweight and obese patients are affected even more, and will probably change the way future diabetes treatments are decided upon.

The Diamat Analyzer System is manufactured by Bio-Rad Laboratories, (Hercules, CA, USA) and the CLC330/CLC 385 analyzer is a product of Primus (Kansas City, MO, USA). The H. pylori IgG ELISA was obtained from Wampole Laboratories (Wampole Laboratories, Cranbury, NJ, USA). Yu Chen, PhD, MPH, the lead author of the study, said, "If future studies confirm our finding, it may be beneficial for individuals at risk for diabetes to be tested for the presence of H. pylori depending on the individual's risk factor profile." The authors added that perhaps some older diabetes patients might benefit from a course of antibiotics to eradicate the bacterium. The study was published on March 13, 2012, in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Related Links:
New York University School of Medicine
Bio-Rad Laboratories
Primus