HELICOBACTER PYLORI AND INTESTINAL PARASITES ARE NOT DETRIMENTAL TO THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF AMERINDIANS

ELISABETTA MARINI Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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ANA L. MALDONADO-CONTRERAS Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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STEFANO CABRAS Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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GLIDA HIDALGO Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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ROBERTO BUFFA Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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AURA MARIN Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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GIOVANNI FLORIS Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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WALTER RACUGNO Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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LUIS R. PERICCHI Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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MARIA E. CASTELLANOS Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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MICHAEL GRÖSCHL Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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MARTIN J. BLASER Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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MARÍA G. DOMÍNGUEZ-BELLO Department of Experimental Biology and Department of Mathematics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela; Amazonic Center for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases, Centro Amazónico para Investigación y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela; Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Statistics, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Laboratory of Endocrinology, Klinik mit Poliklink für Kinder und Jugendliche, Erlangen, Germany; Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

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Gastrointestinal parasites have evolved with humans and colonize many asymptomatic subjects. We investigated the influence of microbial gastrointestinal colonization on the nutritional status of rural Amerindians (40 males and 61 females). Helicobacter pylori was detected by 13C-breath test, and intestinal parasites were detected in fecal specimens. Body morphometry and bioelectrical impedance measurements were measured. Although Amerindians showed low height and weight for age, they had an adequate body mass index, morphometric parameters, and cell mass. Intestinal parasites were detected in 99% of the subjects, with no detrimental effect on nutritional parameters. Helicobacter pylori was present in 82% of adults and half the children, and was positively correlated with improved nutritional status. Despite the high prevalence of gastrointestinal microbes often associated with disease, the studied population of Amerindians had a body morphometry and composition indicative of good nutritional status, and improved in children positive for gastric H. pylori.

Author Notes

Reprint requests: Maria G. Domínguez-Bello, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Av. Ponce Leon, NCN 343, San Juan, PR 00931.
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