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A role for Helicobacter pylori in the gastrointestinal complaints of eating disorder patients?
Author(s) -
Hill Kelly K.,
Hill Daniell B.,
Humphries Laurie L.,
Maloney Michael J.,
McClain Craig J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199901)25:1<109::aid-eat14>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - gastroenterology , helicobacter pylori , anorexia nervosa , medicine , nausea , anorexia , gastritis , bulimia nervosa , gastrointestinal disorder , eating disorders , psychiatry
Eating disorder patients frequently present with gastrointestinal complaints. Helicobacter pylori is an etiologic factor in type B gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and may cause nausea and anorexia. Objective To determine whether or not there is an increased prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with eating disorders. Method Serum H. pylori IgG antibody and gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed in 32 patients admitted for inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia nervosa. Results Eating disorder patients did not have an increased rate of detectable serum H. pylori IgG antibody. Discussion There is not an increased prevalence of H. pylori infection in eating disorder patients. Thus, the increased frequency of gastrointestinal complaints in eating disorder patients cannot be attributed to H. pylori infection. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 25:109–112, 1999.