Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in inflammatory bowel disease: is Helicobacter pylori infection a protective factor?
Our results confirm the low prevalence of H. pylori infection in IBD, and in particular in CD. The significantly higher age of onset and bimodal pattern of age-specific incidence in seropositive IBD patients suggest that H. pylori infection significantly modifies the development of IBD and may have a protective effect.
Andean relative to European ancestry protects against altitude-associated reductions in fetal growth. The intermediate protection seen in the admixed (Mestizo) group is consistent with the influence of genetic or other Andean-specific protective characteristics.