Association between Helicobacter felis—Induced Gastritis and Elevated Glycated Hemoglobin Levels in a Mouse Model of Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection has been described in association with increases in glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) levels in patients with type 1 diabetes. The purpose of the present study was to use an animal model of Helicobacter infection to test, under controlled conditions, the hypothesis that infection is associated with high HbA_1c levels. Diabetes was induced in C57BL/6 mice by administration of streptozotocin, and the mice were orally inoculated with H. felis. Six weeks after inoculation, infected mice (n = 10) showed gastritis scores significantly greater (P = .01) than those of uninfected mice (n = 10). HbA1c levels were significantly higher in infected mice with gastritis (11.6%; n = 6) than in infected mice without gastritis (8.4%; n = 4) or uninfected mice (7.6%; n = 10). It was concluded that gastritis induced by H. felis is associated with increased HbA_1c levels in the mouse model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes.