Impaired cholesterol efflux capacity in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection and its relation with inflammation

Gut microorganisms are associated with atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular disease. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with dyslipidemia and inflammation contributing to the progression of atherosclerosis. Several studies have reported reduced HDL-C levels in H. pylori infected patients, but HDL cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) as the most important function of HDL has not been evaluated yet. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 44 biopsy confirmed H. pylori patients and 43 controls. ABCA1-mediated, non-ABCA1 and total CEC were measured in ApoB-depleted serum and levels of ApoA-I, ApoB and hsCRP were estimated using ELISA technique. Total and ABCA1 mediated-CEC were reduced in patients compared to controls, independent of age, sex, body mass index and HDL-C (p