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Abstract
Background:
Helicobacter pylori infection is a common cause of chronic gastritis that can impair intrinsic factor secretion, resulting in reduced vitamin B-12 absorption. Vitamin B-12 deficiency may lead to anemia, neuropathy, and cognitive impairment, yet it often remains undiagnosed among dyspeptic patients in Pakistan.
Objective:
To determine the frequency of vitamin B-12 deficiency in H. pylori stool antigen-positive dyspeptic patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital.
Methods:
This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Civil Hospital Karachi, over six months after approval from the Institutional Review Board. A total of 143 Helicobacter pylori stool antigen–positive dyspeptic patients aged 20–70 years were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. Serum vitamin B-12 levels were measured using chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay, with ≤174 pg/mL considered deficient, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05.
Results:
Out of 143 Helicobacter pylori stool antigen–positive dyspeptic patients, 117 (81.8 %) were found to have vitamin B-12 deficiency (≤ 174 pg/mL). A significant association was observed between vitamin B-12 deficiency and both higher BMI (p = 0.04) and severe dyspeptic symptoms (p = 0.001).
Conclusion:
Vitamin B-12 deficiency is highly prevalent among H. pylori–positive dyspeptic patients and is significantly linked with symptom severity and overweight status.