Density of gastric Helicobacter pylori colonization is not associated with occurrence of dyspeptic symptoms

In most studies, the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with dyspeptic symptoms does not clearly differ from the prevalence in asymptomatic controls. However, the degree of H. pylori colonization might play a role for the occurrence and severity of dyspeptic symptoms. Between August 1993 and July 1994, we screened 1500 apparently healthy volunteers (1036 men, 464 women, 42 +/- 12 years) for H. pylori infection using the [C-13] urea breath test. The noninvasive urea breath test enables a semiquantitative assessment of the extent of H. pylori colonization in the stomach. Of the 1500 volunteers, 526 (35.1%) complained of occasional or frequent dyspeptic symptoms. No difference was observed in the H. pylori prevalence between asymptomatic subjects (35.5%) and those with dyspeptic symptoms (35.9%; P > 0.95). A high density of H. pylori colonization in the gastric mucosa was not associated with a higher frequency of dyspepsia (P > 0.80). According to these findings, an eradication therapy on the basis of dyspeptic symptoms alone cannot be recommended as H. pylori is not a proven etiology of dyspepsia.