Influence of serum vitamin D level on <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> eradication: A multi‐center, observational, prospective and cohort study

Abstract

Objectives This study was designed to test whether serum vitamin D levels affected Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infection and eradication rates. Methods A multicenter observational prospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 496 H. pylori − positive ( H. pylori + ) and 257 H. pylori ‐negative ( H. pylori − ) patients were enrolled from four hospitals in China. Baseline serum vitamin D levels were measured and a 13 C‐urea breath test (UBT) was performed for all the participants. The H. pylori + patients were divided into two subgroups based on their serum vitamin D levels (&lt;10 or ≥10 ng/mL). A second 13 C‐UBT was performed between 4 and 8 weeks after 14‐day bismuth‐containing quadruple eradication therapies. Factors potentially affecting H. pylori eradication were determined using a questionnaire survey. Results Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the H. pylori + group than in the H. pylori − group ([17.0 ± 6.9] ng/mL vs [19.2 ± 8.0] ng/mL, P = 0.000). H. pylori eradication rate significantly differed between patients with serum vitamin D levels of &lt;10 ng/mL and ≥10 ng/mL (71.7% vs 87.3%, P = 0.005). A multivariate analysis showed that having serum vitamin D level ≥10 ng/mL was an independent risk factor for a successful H. pylori eradication (odds ratio 0.381, 95% confidence interval 0.183‐0.791, P = 0.010). Conclusions Serum vitamin D level may affect H. pylori infection and its eradication. Randomized controlled trials are needed to find out whether vitamin D supplements may increase the H. pylori eradication rate.