Gastritis and peptic ulcers are associated with the lower levels of plasma lipids: possible involvement of histamine

Background: Histamine receptors are involved to regulate lipid metabolism, so the hypothesis will arise that pathological states with abnormal histamine levels are associated with altered plasma lipids. Objectives: To study the profile of plasma lipids in patients with gastritis and peptic ulcer (GPU). Methods: In a case-control study, 70 dyspeptic patients were selected according to clinical criteria and using gastroduodenoscopy and compared with sex and age matched normal subjects. Results: There were no significant differences in age, sex, and the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes between two groups. But allergy, the familial history of allergy and dyspeptic and H. pylori infection were more prevalent in case group compared with controls. The levels of the indices of inflammation and body hydration were the same in two groups. Patients with dyspeptic compared with the controls had the lower concentrations of serum triglyceride (139.2±44.3 vs. 153.4±91.3), p≤0.553), total cholesterol (174.6±32.4 vs. 192.8±52.0, p≤0.073, LDLc (93.4±20.2 vs. 105.4±32.2, p≤0.015) and NonHDLc (130.2±38.1 vs. 159.2±42.2, p≤0.008). The level of HDL had not a significant change (43.4±7.8 vs. 43.5±12.7, p≤0.930). Dyspeptic state had negative significant correlation with total cholesterol, LDLc and NonHDLc but not HDLc. Neither the markers of inflammation nor the indices of body hydration had significant correlation with GPU. Conclusions: The GPU patients relative to normal group had the lower levels of serum lipids. The hypolipemic effects may be attributed to increased level of histamine in GPU patients.