In a cross-sectional study published in Journal of International Medical Research, obese people illustrated a higher prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection when compared to people with a lean body mass index (< 25.00 kg/m2). Wesam Ahmed Nasif et al. undertook this study to explore the incidence of H. pylori and its link with serum 8-hydroxy deoxyguanine levels and body mass index as a biomarker for degree of oxidative stress.

In total, 298 people (mean ± standard deviation age 47.17 ± 9.27 years) that had suffered from epigastric discomfort or dyspepsia for > one month and had undergone diagnostic upper endoscopy were recruited. People having a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 were characterized as obese. With the aid of H. pylori immunoglobulin G antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the presence of anti-H. pylori antibodies were validated. With the help of competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay, the levels of 8-hydroxy deoxyguanine were estimated.

Out of these, 186 (62.4%) people were H. pylori-positive and 112 (37.6%) people were H. pylori-negative. The H. pylori-positive people exhibited considerably increased levels of H. pylori immunoglobulin G antibodies in comparison with H. pylori-negative people. The prevalence of H. pylori linearly correlated with body mass index quantile. There is a strong link between the levels of 8-hydroxy deoxyguanine and the body mass index of people in the H. pylori-positive group.