Effect of Helicobacter pylori Infection on the Levels of Serum Zinc and Copper Among Sudanese Patients with Gastritis(In Khartoum state)

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) colonize the human gastric and duodenal mucosa, and the infection may cause peptic ulcers and gastritis. Most studies indicated that Helicobacter pylori infection affects micronutrients zinc and copper. The objective of the study wasto compare serum concentration of trace elements zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) of gastritis Helicobacter pylori-Infected patientswith those of gastritis H.pylori negative. Materials and Methods: This was cross sectional case control study. The study was conducted in 40 gastritis H.pylori-infected patients and 40 (age and gender) matched gastritis H.pylori negative control. Stool Antigen H.pylori test was used to determine H.pylori, and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopymethod was employed to analyze both serum zinc and copperconcentrations. Results: Compared to the control subjects, H.pylori-infected patients had significant decrease in both serum concentrations ofZn and Cu (p=0.000), and BMI was insignificantly increased in patients compared to control (p=0.255).According to recurrent occurrence (once or twice) there wasinsignificant difference between means of serum zinc and copper (p=0.824, 0.869) respectively. Among patient group, Level of serum zinc was insignificant decreased in male compared with female (p=0.409), while serum copper was significantly decrease in male compared with (p=0.013). According to age groups both serum zinc and copper were insignificant deference between groups (p=0.221, p=0.504) respectively. And also there was significant weak positive correlation between zinc and age (p=0.016, r=0.377), and insignificant correlation between copper and age (p=0.148, r=0.233). Conclusion: Serum concentrations of Zn and Cu were significantlydecreased in patients with gastritisHelicobacter pylori.