Lifestyle-related diseases and H. pylori

H. pylori infection elicits a chronic cellular inflammatory response not only in the gastric mucosa, but also in the extra-digestive organs. Indeed, H. pylori infection has been epidemiologically linked to the extra-digestive conditions and diseases. In this article, we review recent progress in our understanding about the relationship between H. pylori infection and lifestyle-related diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and osteoporosis. Although the relationships between all of these diseases and H. pylori infection are still controversial, H. pylori infection may increase the risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, especially when CagA+ cytotoxic strains of H. pylori are present.