Association of alcohol drinking and Helicobacter pylori Infection

The association between drinking and Helicobacter pylori infection is unclear, with previous mixed and inconclusive results. A meta-analysis was conducted to summarise and clarify this association.
A comprehensive search of research databases identified studies investigating the association between drinking and H. pylori infection and the strength of this relationship was evaluated.
24 individual studies were included in the meta-analysis. The risk of H. pylori infection was significantly lower in alcohol drinkers than nondrinkers (OR=0.83). Wine drinkers (OR=0.90) or those who consume mixed types of alcoholic beverages (OR=0.78) had a lower risk of infection compared with beer drinkers.
Among people aged 40 years or older, alcohol drinkers had a lower risk of H. pylori infection than nondrinkers (OR=0.68). Among people less than 40 years of age, alcohol drinking was not associated with H. pylori infection risk. Data showed that women were at a lower risk of H. pylori infection than men (OR=0.86).
The meta-analysis suggests that the risk of H. pylori infection among alcohol drinkers is lower than that of nondrinkers. Drinking wine and mixed types of alcohol are better at reducing H. pylori infection than drinking beer.
The authors emphasise that they discourage reducing H. pylori infection through drinking, due to the potential increases in the risk of other diseases.
Source: Du, Pengqiang MM*; Zhang, Chao MSc†; Wang, Aifeng MSc*; Ma, Zhichao MM‡; Shen, Su BSc†; Li, Xingang PhD† Association of Alcohol Drinking and Helicobacter pylori Infection, Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology: December 15, 2021 – Volume – Issue –