Treatment of Helicobacter Pylori Associated Iron Deficiency Anemia: Does Iron Supplementation Make Difference

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with high prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Eradication of H. pylori is associated with improvement of IDA. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of H. pylori eradication with and without the use of iron supplementation on IDA among patients with H. pylori infection. It was a prospective therapeutic study on 36 patients tested positive 14C-urea breath test on screening for H. pylori infection, and had chronic mild to moderate IDA. Patients were divided randomly into two groups each of 18 patients. Groups A patients were given anti-H. pylori eradication therapy plus oral iron supplementation for 2 months. Group B patients were given the same anti-H. pylori therapy but without the iron supplement. Hemoglobin, serum iron and serum ferritin were assessed and compared between the two groups at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months of therapy. Results were expressed as mean ± SD. Paired t-test was used to compare quantitative values. P value significant if < 0.05. It has been found that both groups showed significant increase in mean levels of hemoglobin, serum iron and serum ferritin at 1, and 2 months after successful H. pylori eradication (p<0.001), However, the increase was more significant in Group A patients compared with group B patients (p<0.05). At the end of the study, both groups showed normal mean levels of all these parameters. This study concluded that eradication of H. pylori infection plus simultaneous iron supplementation was associated with a faster and greater recovery from IDA as compared with eradication without iron supplement. However, H. pylori eradication without iron supplementation was also associated with significantly increased iron absorption and recovery from IDA.