The Influence of Helicobacter pylori Eradication on Leptin, Soluble CD40 Ligand, Oxidative Stress and Body Composition in Patients with Peptic Ulcer Disease

Objective To determine the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication on blood levels of soluble CD40 ligand, leptin, oxidative stress and body composition in patients with dyspepsia infected with H. pylori. Methods The infection of H. pylori was based on the presence of both 14C urea breath test (UBT) and histology. Patients were given triple eradication therapy for 14 days and at 3 months after the treatment, 14C UBT was reinstituted. Fasting glucose, leptin, body composition, soluble CD40 ligand, total oxidant status (TOS) were studied before and at 3 months after the treatment. Results In 33 subjects, H. pylori infection was successfully eradicated. sCD40L, and TOS levels were significantly decreased after H. pylori eradication. The percentage of body fat and body fat mass significantly decreased whereas the fat free mass (FFM) increased after eradication. However, eradication of the organism yielded no differences in leptin levels. Conclusion These findings suggest that H. pylori eradication reduces the sCD40L and oxidative stress, fat mass with a significant increase in fat free mass. Thus, eradication of H. pylori infection not only improves ulcer healing, but may also reduce the presumed atherosclerosis risk.