Vitamin B12 Status in Children with Helicobacter pylori Gastritis

Objective: Helicobacter pylori is rdescribed as the major etiological factor for gastritis and also associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease, and vitamin B12 deficiencies. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori gastritis and vitamin B12 status as well as to determine prevalence of esophagitis in children with H.pylori infections. Method: A total number of 556 children who underwent eso-gastro-duodenoscopy were evaluated retrospectively. Diagnosis of H pylori infection, esophagitis, and gastritis was performed with histopathologic examination. Patients were divided into H.pylori (+) and (-) groups. Patients' demographic characteristics, physical examination, imaging and laboratory findings were recorded and evaluated. Results: Patients included in the study consisted of 310 (55.8%) females, and 246 (44.2%) males. The mean age was significantly lower in males (9.43 +/- 5.69) than females (11.10 +/- 5.32) (p<0.001). The most common symptom was abdominal pain (41,5%). According to the histopathological examination H.pylori was positive in 24.5% (n=136) of our patients. Of the patients 28.6% (n=159) were diagnosed with esophagitis and 55.4% (n=308) with chronic gastritis. Esophagitis was detected in 30.1% of patients diagnosed with H.pylori and all chronic gastritis patients were found to be positive for H.pylori (p<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences found in mean levels of vitamin B12 between H.pylori negative and positive groups of patients with chronic gastritis. But the mean serum levels of vitamin B12 measured in the H.pylori positive group (382.93 +/- 245.50 pg/mL) was statistically significantly lower than H.pylori-negative group (467.90 +/- 305.36 pg/mL) (p=0.028). There were also no significant differences found in mean levels of iron between H.pylori-negative and positive groups. Conclusion: Although all children with chronic gastritis were positive for H.pylori, our findings provide no evidence for a link between esophagitis, iron deficiency and H.pylori infection. In addition, H.pylori infection has been demonstrated to be a risk factor for vitamin B12 deficiency.