Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 13(11): November 2020 5451 ISSN 0974-3618 (Print) www.rjptonline.org 0974-360X (Online) RESEARCH ARTICLE Correlation of Vitamin B12 deficiency with H. pylori infection and other Biochemical parameters in Iraqi patients Namir I. A. Haddad*, Nadia A. Abdulrahman Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Jaddiriya, Baghdad, Iraq. *Corresponding Author E-mail: namir.haddad@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Helicobacter pylori are implicated in the pathogenesis of several human gastric diseases and lead to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to estimate serum levels of vitamin B12 in Iraqi individuals infected with H. pylori and comparing them with healthy individuals. This case–control study was performed between January and June 2019 on eighty-four participants (41 female and 43 male) distributed evenly into patients and control groups. Serum vitamin B12 was measured and complete blood count was performed. The results revealed that patients group had decreased levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell, white blood cells and platelet compared to healthy individuals. Moreover vitamin B12 level of patients (females and males) was significantly lower than that of control group (396.2±101.3 vs. 706±269pg/ml) for females and (253±100 vs. 629±151 pg/ml) for males. Vitamin B12 might be used as a valuable indicator for anemic patients having gastritis since it is strongly correlated to Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC and PLT level in infected patients. KEYWORDS: Vitamin B12, H. pylori, ulcer, hematological parameters. INTRODUCTION: The bacterium that grows in close association with the lining of the stomach is called Helicobacter pylori. It is associated with several human gastric diseases and lead to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide 1 . These bacteria are involved in the pathogenesis of gastric cancers such as gastric adenocarcinoma and mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma as well as superficial gastritis and peptic ulcer disease 2 . Nearly, fifty percent of the world’s populations are infected with H. pylori and this infection remains asymptomatic in majority of infected population 3 . Stomach infections with Helicobacter pylori mostly occur in childhood. If repeated, it might result in chronic gastritis predominantly leading to peptic ulcer disease, later on in life. Ulcer is a sore or hole in the lining of the stomach or duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) 4 . Received on 05.01.2020 Modified on 08.03.2020 Accepted on 25.04.2020 © RJPT All right reserved Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 2020; 13(11):5451-5454. DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X.2020.00951.8 These bacteria enfeeble the preservative mucous that covering the stomach and duodenum, which permits the passing of acid to the sensitive lining below it. Each of the bacteria and the acid irritate the lining and cause a sore, or ulcer. H. pylori secrete enzymes that neutralize the acid in stomach, so they are able to survive in stomach. The Bacterial acid tolerance and motility play critical role in gastric colonization 5 . Infection with these bacteria will cause significant increases in the inflammation factors production such as C-reactive proteins (CRP) and interleukins (IL) in the gastric epithelial cells. As well as, it has a central role in the elevation of oxidative stress and causing stomach inflammation, peptic ulcers, and gastric malignancy in the infected individuals 6 . Since inflammation is a defensive multistep process for the immune system, the frequent exposure to the infection of H. pylori will result in inflammation process failure and inability to combat progress of infectious agents. This will cause numerous diseases such as heart disease and cancer, and as result, this continuous over stress causes weakening of the body 7,8 .