Helicobacter pylori infection and micronutrient deficiency in pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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#adolescent #adult #anemia-iron-deficiency #case-control-studies #data-management

Helicobacter pylori infection and micronutrient deficiency in pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Afsar et al., 2020 | BMJ Open Gastroenterol | Meta Analysis

Citation

Afsar Md Nure Alam, Jhinu Zannatun Nahar, ... Siddiqua Towfida Jahan. Helicobacter pylori infection and micronutrient deficiency in pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 2020-Oct;7(1). doi:10.1136/bmjgast-2020-000490

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Over the last few years, epidemiological studies have shown that infection with Helicobacter pylori has a major effect on micronutrient deficiency as well as on adverse pregnancy outcomes. Importantly, there are gaps in understanding the linkage of H. pylori infection with micronutrients deficiency in pregnant women. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the association between H. pylori infection and micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted for relevant articles using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus database from inception to March 2020. The OR with 95% CIs was determined by meta-analysis of data extracted from the selected studies. RESULTS: From 2384 primary articles, 6 studies were selected for systematic reviews and 4 studies distinctively (with 1274 participants: 553 cases and 721 controls) were selected for meta-analysis. The meta-analysed fixed effect model estimated the odds of having H. pylori infection was not significantly higher among pregnant women with micronutrient deficiencies than those without deficiencies (OR=1.12, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.42, p=0.37). In the subgroup analysis, no correlation was found between H. pylori infection and vitamin B12 (OR=0.74, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.21, p=0.22), folate (OR=1.07, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.58, p=0.73), and ferritin (OR=0.81, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.31, p=0.4). However, a positive correlation was found between iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) and H. pylori infection (OR=16.23, 95% CI 4.19 to 62.93, p<0.0001) during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection is associated with increased risk of IDA but not with deficiency of other micronutrients in pregnancy. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019135683.

Key Findings

From 2384 primary articles, 6 studies were selected for systematic reviews and 4 studies distinctively (with 1274 participants: 553 cases and 721 controls) were selected for meta-analysis. The meta-analysed fixed effect model estimated the odds of having H. pylori infection was not significantly higher among pregnant women with micronutrient deficiencies than those without deficiencies (OR=1.12, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.42, p=0.37). In the subgroup analysis, no correlation was found between H. pylori in

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population pregnant women
Sample Size 1274
Age Range See abstract
Condition deficiency

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Data Management
  • Female
  • Folic Acid
  • Helicobacter Infections
  • Helicobacter pylori
  • Humans
  • Malnutrition
  • Micronutrients
  • Observational Studies as Topic
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Risk Factors
  • Vitamin B 12
  • Young Adult

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-b12

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09