If you’re feeling tired, weak, or just not yourself, you may be deficient in key nutrients like iron. Iron deficiency can have a number of causes, one of which is H. pylori infection.
Fatigue and weakness are not symptoms usually associated with H. pylori, but there is a body of research indicating a strong association between H. pylori infection and the development of iron deficiency anemia.
The H. pylori bacterium can mount an autoimmune response against the parietal cells of the stomach. These cells are responsible for the production of hydrochloric acid that helps you break down food.
Damage to these parietal cells can cause a drop in stomach acid levels. When this happens, the food may not break down properly. In particular, it may have difficulty breaking down protein and releasing minerals such as iron from food. As a consequence, iron may not be effectively absorbed from the intestine into the body.
This inability to digest food and absorb nutrients can occur independently of classic H. pylori symptoms, such as heartburn or acid reflux. In other words, you may feel tired and weak from the infection without having any digestive symptoms, making it difficult to associate your symptoms with a problem with your digestive system.
Common symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are as follows:
Fatigue and low energy levels.
Weakness
General discomfort
poor concentration
difficulty breathing
restless leg syndrome
Pale skin, nail beds, and gums
Faster heartbeat (tachycardia)
How do we know that H. pylori can cause iron deficiency anemia? Is there any research that supports the notion?
I have found numerous studies showing that H. pylori is closely related to iron deficiency anemia. These studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as “Gut”, “World Journal of Gastroenterology” and also in the journal of the European Helicobacter Study Group, “Helicobacter”.
Of particular concern is the role of H. pylori in childhood. Growth retardation is strongly associated with iron deficiency and H. pylori infection. If H. pylori prevents children from digesting food and absorbing nutrients, it is not surprising that this association exists. I recommend that parents of any child who experiences failure to thrive have their child tested not only for H pylori, but also for celiac disease and other digestive infections like bacteria, parasites, and fungal overgrowth.
It’s clear that H. pylori is responsible for much more than heartburn, acid reflux, and digestive pain. The fact that it can slow down the production of stomach acid by damaging the parietal cells in the stomach can lead to poor breakdown of food and a consequent compromise in the patient’s ability to absorb nutrients.
Deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and other nutrients have been associated with low stomach acid levels and the presence of H. pylori. Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with these deficiencies, or if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned in this article without a reasonable explanation, it would be prudent to seek breath or stool tests for Helicobacter pylori.
Optimizing your diet, eliminating H pylori, optimizing intestinal healing and digestive enzyme/stomach acid levels are the key steps in achieving a full recovery. Care should be taken with iron supplements because many of the iron supplements used by doctors cause further discomfort to the intestine. Some supplement manufacturers have developed iron supplements that do not cause these side effects.
