Infection by Helicobacter pylori affects over half of the world’s population and is a public health issue. Its prevalence is significantly higher in developing countries such as Brazil. It has been suggested that infection by H pylori can impact calorie intake and homeostasis.
Aim: Analyze the influence of infection by H pylori and of its eradication on nutritional status and dietary intake.
Material and methods: The study included 124 patients (48 of whom H pylori positive, 45 H pylori negative, and 31 eradicated). Weight and height were measured to calculate the body mass index (BMI). Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour diet recall (24hR) in two occasions.
Results: Pre-obesity was the highest among the eradicated patients (p = 0.011). Homogenicity was found in the dietary intake for the nutrients studied, except for saccharose, whose intake was the lowest among the eradicated group (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Patients eradicated for H pylori had a higher rate of pre-obesity. The dietary intake was similar among the groups for nearly all nutrients assessed, except for saccharose, whose intake by eradicated patients was lower. This entails discussions about possibly including the investigation of nutritional status and diet in the routine procedures towards those who seek a diagnosis of infection by H pylori.