Potential involvement of Helicobacter pylori from oral specimens in overweight body-mass index

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori was originally classified in the Campylobacter genus, which contains major periodontopathic bacterial species, and H . pylori DNA has been found in the oral cavity. Although many studies show an association between the presence of periodontal bacteria and an overweight body-mass index (BMI; >25 kg/m 2 ), the relationship between body weight and the presence of H . pylori in the oral cavity has not been demonstrated. Herein, we analysed the relationship between H . pylori in the oral cavity and systemic conditions, including the overweight BMI. Saliva specimens and extracted teeth were obtained from 87 subjects; the distribution of H . pylori among these specimens was analysed with the polymerase chain reaction. Subjects with an overweight BMI exhibited significantly higher detection rates of H . pylori in saliva, compared with non-overweight subjects (BMI