Relevance between Helicobacter pylori infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Bai minority region, Southwestern China

Abstract Objective The association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains a matter of debate. We conducted this study to evaluate whether H. pylori infection is a major risk factor for NAFLD. Methods A total of 1185 individuals who received health check-ups from January 2017 to June 2019 were studied. Data of each subject who underwent 13C-urea breath, abdominal ultrasound, neck vascular color doppler ultrasound, and had a complete set of serum biochemical results was collected from the hospital information system. Participants were allocated to NAFLD group and non-NAFLD group based on abdominal color ultrasound for NAFLD. The baseline characteristics and serum biochemical results were compared. Logistic regression analyses were utilized to identify risk factors for NAFLD. Logistic regression models adjusted for confounding factors was performed to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and NAFLD. Results Compared to subjects without NAFLD(n = 656), those with NAFLD (n = 529) were more likely to be older, with higher weight, SBP, DBP, higher levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, FPG, AST and ALT, but with lower levels of HDL-C (all P values < 0.05). The levels of ALT, AST, BMI, FPG, TG, and DBP were independent risk factors for NAFLD (all P values < 0.05). Additionally, H. pylori was also an independent risk factor for NAFLD (OR = 1.35, 95%CI 1.02–1.79, P = 0.036). TC and LDL-C levels were significantly higher in H. pylori-positive group (n = 464) than that of in H. pylori-negative group (n = 721) (all P values < 0.05). Conclusions H. pylori infection is a key risk factor for NAFLD, and serum lipid metabolic dysfunction can be observed in the subjects with H. pylori, suggesting the potential role of H. pylori infection in the progression of NAFLD.