Correlation of Vitamin B12 deficiency with H. pylori infection and other Biochemical parameters in Iraqi patients

Helicobacter pylori are implicated in the pathogenesis of several human gastric diseases and lead to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to estimate serum levels of vitamin B12 in Iraqi individuals infected with H. pylori and comparing them with healthy individuals. This case-control study was performed between January and June 2019 on eighty-four participants (41 female and 43 male) distributed evenly into patients and control groups. Serum vitamin B12 was measured and complete blood count was performed. The results revealed that patients group had decreased levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell, white blood cells and platelet compared to healthy individuals. Moreover vitamin B12 level of patients (females and males) was significantly lower than that of control group (396.2±101.3 vs. 706±269pg/ml) for females and (253±100 vs. 629±151 pg/ml) for males. Vitamin B12 might be used as a valuable indicator for anemic patients having gastritis since it is strongly correlated to Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC and PLT level in infected patients.