If you’re feeling tired, weak or just generally not yourself, you could have H pylori or Parasites because they can cause Iron-Deficiency Anaemia as well as vitamin B12 deficiency. Fatigue is not a symptom that would generally be associated with H pylori infection, but believe me, any digestive infection can leave you feeling tired.
There is a wealth of research indicating a strong association between H pylori infection and the development of iron-deficiency anaemia.
H pylori infection is known to influence your ability to digest food. In some folk, H pylori can create an autoimmune response against the parietal cells of the stomach. These cells are responsible for the production of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid).
If the H pylori bacteria cause damage to the parietal cells, stomach acid levels can decrease significantly. When acid levels in the stomach are low, food may not be broken-down properly. In particular, you’ll have a hard time breaking down proteins and releasing minerals such as iron so that they can be absorbed into your body via the intestine.
H pylori may be able to cause anaemia (and its symptoms – fatigue, weakness, malaise) without causing any digestive symptoms whatsoever. This is one of the reasons why H pylori infection is so insidiously dangerous.
Anaemia & Wikipedia
Believe it or not, there are many different sub-types of anaemia but I am only going to cover iron-deficiency anaemia here. Here’s what Wikipedia says about it – I have underlined the relevant parts for the purposes of this article:
Iron deficiency anemia is caused by insufficient dietary intake or absorption of iron to replace losses from menstruation or losses due to diseases. Iron is an essential part of hemoglobin, and low iron levels result in decreased incorporation of hemoglobin into red blood cells. In the United States, 20% of all women of childbearing age have iron deficiency anemia, compared with only 2% of adult men. The principal cause of iron deficiency anemia in premenopausal women is blood lost during menses. Iron deficiency is the most prevalent deficiency state on a worldwide basis.
Iron deficiency anemia can also be due to bleeding lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Faecal occult blood testing, upper endoscopy and lower endoscopy should be performed to identify bleeding lesions.
Worldwide, the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia is parasitic infestation (hookworm, amebiasis, schistosomiasis and whipworm).
I find it very interesting that, despite the mention of parasites at the end of this piece, there is no mention of H pylori infection. The Wikipedia piece does go on to mention that iron-deficiency anaemia can be the result of autoimmune reactions against the parietal cells, but it doesn’t talk about that being caused by H pylori, which is rather odd!
Anaemia Symptoms
Symptoms that are typically associated with anaemia are:
A complete symptom list can be seen in the diagram, below. If you have any of these symptoms, we can help.
H Pylori & Anaemia Research
Here is a list of scientific and medical studies on the subject. The list is far from exhaustive:
Sarker et al. Anti-Helicobacter pylori Therapy Improves Iron Status and Gastric Acid Output in Young Bangladeshi Women with H. pylori-Associated Hypochloridia and Iron Deficiency Anaemia. Helicobacter 2006 (A06.01); 11: 321-415.
Sarker et al. Serum Ferritin, Haemoglobin, Soluble Transferrin Receptor and Helicobacter pylori Infection in Peri-Urban Community Children in Bangladesh. Helicobacter 2005 (A09.06); 10: 458-556.
Munoz-Codoceo. Iron deficiency anaemia in paediatric patients with Helicobacter pylori infection. Helicobacter 2004 (A09.21); 9: 487-604.
Russo-Mancuso et al. Iron Deficiency Anaemia as the only sign of Infection with Helicobacter pylori: A Report of 9 Paediatric cases. Int J. Haemat. 78: 429-431.
What Can You Do?
The way we deal with anaemia and its symptoms in Functional Medicine differs from the way it’s treated in “western medicine”.
The biggest difference is that we are always looking for the root cause of the problem rather than simply giving iron supplements:
Can We Help?
The bottom line is that H pylori and digestive parasites such as hookworm, whipworm and amoebic infection can lead to anaemia as well as vitamin B12 deficiency. This can leave you feeling tired and weak. Taking iron supplements can help, but you really must identify the root cause of why the anaemia is occurring.
If you are struggling with H pylori or any issues and symptoms that are discussed on this website, we have the tools and expertise to help you.
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I truly hop you found this information useful.
Dave Hompes
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thank you.
It’s a pleasure. Is there anything else we can do to help?
if you have a email list. Please addd my name. I think I may suffer from h pylori. Nothing else, thus far has been found. Stymptoms run from joint and nerve pain and fatigue with tons of disgestive compaints
Hi Dennis,
Thanks for your request – we’ve added you to the email list and we’re going to send
you a private email as well regarding the possibility of these H Pylori Symptoms you’re
experiencing.
If you do read this response, you may like to get educated and working towards a recovery
using my book, The H Pylori Diet
(click on this link to check it out: http://www.h-pylori-symptoms.com/h-pylori-diet)
Alternatively, check out the H pylori Home Recovery Plan here: http://www.h-pylori-symptoms.com/teleclinic
Let us know if we can help further!
Dave.
Dave Hompes.
Had H Pilori, don’t think it cleared from the antibiotics and have developed anaemia. Please advice.
Since 2013 I have been suffering from anemia, had all the internal tests but
Drs. wouldn’t test for parasites. I was in India in March, 2013 and problems started with lower hemoglobin 126 in June, 2013 it finally got down to 59 when
I went to emergency and received blood transfusions and internal testings.
Since then have survived on blood transfusions and now ferritin transfusions, ferritin went up to 400 but hemoglobin went up to 116 and then slowly goes down.
Is it possible to have picked up a parasite in India, I was only there 15 days, did not eat street food (as much as I would of liked to) drank bottled water, had all my injections before I went. I was the only one on my tour that ate Indian
Food in **** star buffets. Everyone got sick but me. I did shower and I know spores can be breathed in even if you don’t get water in your mouth.
Any suggestions as I’ve now seen three hemotologists and one oncologist and had a bone marrow test.
Thank you for any advice.
Annette Code
Hi Annette,
Yes, it is possible to pick up a parasite in one hour, let alone 15 days, if you are unlucky enough to do so.
Anemia has several causes, ranging from genetic to lifestyle, to damaged digestion and infections.
H. pylori infection is known 100% to cause iron deficiency anemia (which is why H pylori symptoms extend way beyond the gut and into the rest of the body).
If you have certain parasites – particularly some of the larger worms like tapeworm and roundworm – they can steal iron from the food you eat so you don’t receive it.
Hookworms can suck your blood from the intestine (they are tiny worms, but enough of them can lead to anemia).
If you have heavy periods, this can exacerbate the problem as you lose a lot of blood.
My recommendation would be to run a very comprehensive stool test initially, with a lab that specialises in parasite testing.
I’d first seek to rule out H. pylori with a stool test – that’s the number one thing I recommend in the first instance.
If H. pylori is negative, I then recommend looking for parasites, including worms. You may need to run tests from two different labs as each lab’s testing has pros and cons. Some are good for finding things like H. pylori and some are better for finding parasites.
PLEASE contact us for further help with the parasite / stool testing if you have difficulty with this.
We’re here to help, and I hope this little post helps you find the first step in your journey.
Best,
Dave
I live in the UK in Dover, Kent. I’m on the PPI esomeprazole. I just had an gastropathy done and have severe hemorrhagic gastritis involving the prepyloric area. I suspect I have an H. Pylori infection at the very least and I’m awaiting the results of a biopsy (CLO test). I am getting (Acne) Papulopustular Rosacea symptoms and have a demodex infestation. Demodex have been affecting across the central area of my face causing infected itchy hair follicles (Folliculitis) and forehead primary (developed a huge skin plaque with spots on forehead) which I have some what beaten back with Topical Crotamiton and Permethrin but still am suffering with this condition. (Hint to anybody using crotamiton do not apply to scalp I found out the hard way, will probably lead to to a severe migraine). Flushing when hot as well. I also believe I have B12 anaemia and I’m using a B Complex to mask this but I believe its still there and havent got rid of the cause, skin color has improved from the pale colour it was but still getting very fatigued. Symptoms list: Migraines on top of head (You feel like someone has smacked you over the head with a brick), Brain Fog, Dizziness, Fatigue, Concentration problems, Sleeplessness & Insomnia but when I can get to sleep its usually during the days, Papulopustular Rosacea & Demodex Infestation, Reflux & Excessive Throat Mucus (I do have a small sliding hiatal hernia, 2cm, GI Specialist said that wouldnt be causing all my problems), Feeling nausea when I wake up, Heart Palpitations at times for no apparent reason, Abdominal Spasms, Asthma like symptoms (Trouble getting air into my lungs at times), Restless Leg Syndrome and I also have Periodic Limb Movement Disorder which I’ve had years before recently developing the Restless Leg Syndrome. Loose Stools which are yellowish not chocolate brown like they are suppose to be. The migraines I’m getting now are horrible (I hope I dont have any nasty bacteria, yeast or parasites in the brain). It’s safe to say I’m quite unwell and that’s putting it nicely. Probably need some antibiotics in me I’m guessing at the least. Can you put me on the email list and some advice if at all possible and send me any relevant knowledge that you know that may help ? I’m in a dire position right now. Im going to see my doctor again. Having a hard time waiting on CLO results. I feel like crap. You run into brickwalls when it comes to comprehensive stool testing in the NHS. My stools are loose and yellowish, something is deffo not right.
Ryan,
There could be all manner of reasons for these symptoms.
Try to keep it simple: find out what is in your body that should not be – bad foods, bad bugs, or bad toxins.
Bad foods include gluten, processed sugar and vegetable oils, cow’s milk and soy. Try avoiding these.
Bad bugs include H. pylori, parasites, Candida and possibly urinary tract infections and other issues such as Lyme disease.
Bad toxins include heavy metals and pesticides.
We can help you run testing for these if you’d like help.
Also, consider whether your body might have an unmet need for something – nutrients such as B vitamins, folates, minerals and so on.
Some of the symptoms you have may suggest issues with methylation (MTHFR gene mutation).
Again, we can help.
I hope this is of assistance. It’s a tricky case, and will need some in depth investigation.
H. pylori may be involved, but my hunch is that much more is going on.
Best,
Dave Hompes.