Published online Oct 28, 2022. doi: 10.13105/wjma.v10.i5.238
Peer-review started: August 4, 2022
First decision: August 19, 2022
Revised: August 23, 2022
Accepted: September 21, 2022
Article in press: September 21, 2022
Published online: October 28, 2022
Processing time: 84 Days and 20.4 Hours
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection occurs in almost half of the world's population, most of whom are merely carriers of this microorganism. H. pylori is shown to be detected more frequently in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) than in the general population, which is accompanied by a significantly increased risk of developing H. pylori-associated diseases. In addition, eradication therapy shows a low efficiency for H. pylori infection in patients with DM. There is a relationship between the level of chronic hyperglycemia and a higher detection rate of H. pylori as well as a lower efficiency of eradication therapy in patients with DM. The exact mechanisms of these phenomena are unknown. The authors make a hypothesis that explains the relationship between chronic hyperglycemia and the increased detection rate of H. pylori, as well as the mechanisms contributing to the improved survival of this bacterium in patients with DM during eradication therapy.
Core Tip: The authors hypothesize that in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are most likely to rely on both amino acids and glucose for its vital activity. The hypothesis makes it possible to explain the high detection rate of H. pylori in patients with DM, as well as the lower efficiency of eradication therapy in them.