The Effect of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication on Liver Fat Content in Subjects With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Open-Label Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND The role of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unclear. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of HP eradication on liver fat content (LFC), liver function tests (LFT), lipid profile, and homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR) index in NAFLD. PATIENTS AND METHODS Dyspeptic patients with increased serum aminotransferase levels were enrolled in the study. The exclusion criteria were factors affecting serum aminotransferase or HP treatment strategy. Participants with persistent elevated serum aminotransferase level and ultrasound criteria for identification of fatty liver were presumed to have NAFLD. "NAFLD liver fat score" was used to classify NAFLD. Those with "NAFLD liver fat score" greater than -0.64 and positive results for urea breath test (UBT), were included. Lifestyle modification was provided to all participants. HP eradication was performed in intervention arm. LFC, fasting serum glucose (FSG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHOL), high and low-density lipoprotein (HDL, LDL), and HOMA-IR were checked at baseline and after that, at intervals of eight weeks and twenty four weeks. RESULTS One hundred (49 males) patients with the mean age of 43.46 (± 11.52) were studied. Repeated measure ANOVA showed a significant reduction in LFC, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory parameters (except for HDL) in the both groups during the study; however, no significant difference was observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS It seems that HP eradication per se might not affect LFC, LFT, lipid profile, and insulin resistance in dyspeptic NAFLD patients.