Association of infection with metabolic parameters and dietary habits among medical undergraduate students in southeastern of Iran.

BACKGROUND

To date, there is still inconclusive evidence on the extra-gastric manifestations of Helicobacter pylori () infection. This study aimed to determine whether there is an association between infection with metabolic syndrome and dietary habits among medical undergraduate students in south-eastern of Iran, Zahedan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was done among 363 undergraduate students in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences during spring 2014. All subjects completed a questionnaire including demographic factors and dietary habits. Serum -specific IgG antibodies, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were measured after an overnight fast.

RESULTS

The seroprevalence of infection was 45.7%. -positive subjects had lower mean levels of TC and TG and higher levels of HDL-C compared to -negative subjects. In addition, lower levels of LDL-C ( = 0.044) and FBS ( = 0.05) were observed among subjects with positive H pylori infection. Only rare consumption of raw vegetables (odds ratio [OR] =3.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.37-5.24) as well as higher levels of FBS (OR = 1.031, 95% CI = 1.001-1.99) were significantly associated with higher odds of infection in both the univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

In a small population of young students in southeastern of Iran, infection was associated with low consumption of raw vegetables and higher serum blood glucose.