The fact that
H. pylori gastritis results in an increased secretion of basal and meal-stimulated gastrin, which is also a physiologic amplifier of insulin release directed us to investigate whether
H. pylori gastritis may lead to an enhancement of nutrient-stimulated insulin secretion. For this purpose, we have investigated the insulin responses to both oral glucose and a mixed meal in 15 patients with
H. pylori gastritis before and one month after the eradication therapy and also in 15
H. pylori-negative control subjects. The areas under the curve (AUC) for serum insulin following both oral glucose and a mixed meal in the patients with
H. pylori gastritis before the eradication were significantly (
P<0.05) higher="" than="" those="" in="">0.05)>
H. pylori-negative controls. After the eradication of
H. pylori, the AUC for serum insulin following oral glucose and mixed meal decreased by 9.4% and 13.1%, respectively (
P<0.001 in="" both),="" and="" serum="" basal="" and="" meal-stimulated="" gastrin="" levels="" decreased="" significantly="">0.001>
P<0.001). these="" results="" suggest="">0.001).>
H. pylori gastritis enhances glucose and meal-stimulated insulin release probably by increasing gastrin secretion.
Key words
Helicobacter pylori
- insulin secretion - gastrin
Presented in part as an abstract at the 8th Balkan Congress of Endocrinology, Bursa, Turkey, May 3–5, 1995.