Role of Helicobacter Pylori Infection in the Thyroid Diseases

H. pylori has also been suggested as a causal agent of drug malabsorption. In particular, malabsorption of thyroxin has been described in a patient with H. pylori infection or treated with drugs that can modify an acid environment. The relationship between H. pylori infection and the daily thyroxin dose in patients with thyroid diseases has been demonstrated in several studies [10-12]. The mechanism of thyroxin absorption involves the intestinal mucosa at the level of the jejunum and ileum, and the range is from 62% to 82% of the ingested dose, with a peak between the first and third hour [13, 14]. The intestinal modulation of thyroxin absorption is determinant for the effectiveness of therapy and it is influenced by several factors, including the patient’s age, adherence to therapy, dietary habits, absorption kinetics, malabsorption, and interference of other drugs [15 -17]. It has been speculated that the acid environment might have a role in thyroxin absorption