The impact of B(12) treatment on gastric emptying time in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.

GOALS

The role that vitamin B12 deficiency plays in upper gastrointestinal motor dysfunction is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine whether B12 replacement therapy improves prolonged gastric emptying time in dyspeptic patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 34 H. pylori-positive patients who had low serum levels of B12 but had no other factors associated with altered gastric motility. Each patient underwent a radionuclide gastric emptying study before and after 3 months of B12 replacement therapy. Dyspepsia scores were calculated pretherapy and posttherapy using a semiquantitative scale. A vitamin B12 preparation (1000 microg/d) was given intramuscularly for the first 10 days and then orally for 80 days. H. pylori eradication therapy was delayed for 3 months until the posttreatment radionuclide study was completed.

RESULTS

The mean gastric emptying time before B12 treatment was significantly longer than that after treatment (230 +/- 190 minutes vs. 98 +/- 29 minutes, respectively; P < 0.0001). The mean dyspepsia score was also significantly improved by treatment (5.4 +/- 1.0 vs. 1.2 +/- 1.0, respectively; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Vitamin B12 deficiency appears to play an important role in the development of gastric dysmotility and its clinical consequences. Replacement therapy will improve gastric emptying in some patients with dyspepsia.