Helicobacter pylori Infection Is Not Associated with Delayed Gastric Emptying or Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Diabetes Mellitus

This study evaluated the relationship between gastric emptying and upper gastrointestinal symptoms with H. pylori status in patients with diabetes mellitus. Sixty-three outpatients (44 type 1, 19 type 2, age 45 ± 1.5 years) underwent measurements of gastric emptying of a mixed solid and liquid meal, gastrointestinal symptoms (gastric and esophageal), glycemic control (HbAlc), and autonomic nerve function. Anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies were quantified using a validated kit. Gastric emptying of solid and/or liquid was delayed in 47 (75%) patients, and 31 (49%) had autonomic neuropathy. Fifteen (24%) of the patients were H. pylori positive. There were no differences in gastric emptying (solid retention at 100 min: 67.5 ± 5.7% vs 63.2 ± 3.6%; P = 0.63, liquid T50: 35.5 ± 2.9 min vs 42.5 ± 3.4 min; P = 0.42), upper gastrointestinal symptoms (gastric 3.9 ± 0.7 vs 4.0 ± 0.4; P = 0.94 or esophageal 1.7 ± 0.5 vs 1.3 ± 0.2; P = 0.42) or HbAlc (8.8 ± 0.4% vs 8.6 ± 0.2%; P = 0.89) between H. pylori-positive and -negative patients. We conclude that H. pylori infection is not associated with delayed gastric emptying or upper gastrointestinal symptoms in diabetes.