Is There a Relationship Between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Anthropometric Status?

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article focuses on an original and interesting topic, particularly given to the high worldwide prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori infection and overweight or obesity in the general population. Moreover, both conditions are closely linked to lifestyle and nutritional habits. However, the approach used to address these issues is somewhat confusing and is strongly affected by an English language which makes it difficult to read.

Besides this general comment, there are several specific comment regarding the various sections of the article

Introduction: the authors should provide a more detailed explanation of the relationship between eating habits and HP infection, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms linking these issues. Furthermore, they should establish a smoother connection between the study’s objective and the introduction.

Materials and Methods: this section should follow the introduction rather than the discussion section. Moreover, a detailed explanation concerning the materials used and the statistical analysis performed should be provided, along with a brief summary of the characteristic of the studied population previously collected.

Results: the sample size is too small and the description of the collected data are insufficient to draw any conclusions

Discussion. as with the introduction section,  the discussion is also rather confusing. Finally, the conclusions are overly hasty and not supported by robust results. This represents a major limitation of the study, which needs to be addressed with a larger sample size, a more accurate methodology, and improved statistical analysis.

The number and quality of references could be improved.

The sections Author Contributions, Funding, Institutional Review Board Statement, Informed Consent Statement, Conflicts of Interest should be completed

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

English language should be thoroughly revised and improved.

Author Response

Good afternoon, dear.

Taking into account the suggestions made by the peer reviewers, the necessary corrections were made.

1. The "Materials and Methods" section was moved to second place in the manuscript.
2. The introduction was expanded, providing a more detailed explanation of the relationship between eating habits and H. pylori infection, with an emphasis on the mechanisms linking these aspects.
3. The discussion was rewritten more clearly, expanding it by including studies related to our research that are more recent.
4. The importance of studies like this one was highlighted, as they could lay the groundwork for longitudinal or intervention studies exploring causality, the effects of dietary changes, or the impact of eradication therapies on obesity indicators.
5. The sample size was increased to 56 students, despite agreeing that it is small, as it corresponds to the student enrollment available at our university.

I thank you in advance for your time. Best regards.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author's study focusses on the  relationship between Helicobacter Pylori infection  and anthropometric Status

A study reported the association of helicobacter pylori infection with anthropometric indices and blood pressure among undergraduate students in southeast of Iran: 10.1016/j.clnu.2018.06.1675

H. pylori infection was not associated with dietary intake or with anthropometric indicators, as it has been reported in another study 10.1017/S0007114515000483

 

I suggest the authors to add discussions and more recent studies in their manuscript. The manuscript can not be accepted in current  form

Author Response

Good afternoon, dear.

Taking into account the suggestions made by the peer reviewers, the necessary corrections were made.

1. The "Materials and Methods" section was moved to second place in the manuscript.
2. The introduction was expanded, providing a more detailed explanation of the relationship between eating habits and H. pylori infection, with an emphasis on the mechanisms linking these aspects.
3. The discussion was rewritten more clearly, expanding it by including studies related to our research that are more recent.
4. The importance of studies like this one was highlighted, as they could lay the groundwork for longitudinal or intervention studies exploring causality, the effects of dietary changes, or the impact of eradication therapies on obesity indicators.
5. The sample size was increased to 56 students, despite agreeing that it is small, as it corresponds to the student enrollment available at our university.

I thank you in advance for your time. Best regards.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. Relate the findings to global health strategies. For instance, discuss how identifying correlations between H. pylori infection and obesity among young adults could inform public health interventions aimed at dietary habits and hygiene practices.

2. Incorporate comparisons with other studies, particularly those conducted in similar demographics or regions, to contextualize the expected findings and underscore their relevance.

3. Highlight how this study can lay the groundwork for longitudinal or interventional studies to explore causality, the effects of dietary changes, or the impact of eradication therapies on obesity metrics.

Author Response

Good afternoon, dear.

Taking into account the suggestions made by the peer reviewers, the necessary corrections were made.

1. The "Materials and Methods" section was moved to second place in the manuscript.
2. The introduction was expanded, providing a more detailed explanation of the relationship between eating habits and H. pylori infection, with an emphasis on the mechanisms linking these aspects.
3. The discussion was rewritten more clearly, expanding it by including studies related to our research that are more recent.
4. The importance of studies like this one was highlighted, as they could lay the groundwork for longitudinal or intervention studies exploring causality, the effects of dietary changes, or the impact of eradication therapies on obesity indicators.
5. The sample size was increased to 57 students, despite agreeing that it is small, as it corresponds to the student enrollment available at our university.

I thank you in advance for your time. Best regards.

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript has been improved, all queries have been addressed.

Author Response

Good afternoon 

Dear reviewer;

 

Response to the Newly Requested Revisions for the Manuscript
"Is there a relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and anthropometric status?"

1. The introduction is excessively long. We substantially reduced the introduction as recommended, and part of the redundant material was moved to the discussion section.
2. Ensure that the standard format for bacterial names is used throughout the manuscript. The name Helicobacter pylori was reviewed and corrected throughout the manuscript, applying binomial nomenclature.
3. Whenever an author’s name is followed by "et al.," the corresponding reference must be placed immediately after "et al." The references were adjusted accordingly, placing them immediately after the author's name and collaborators.
4. The first section of the METHODS currently lacks a subtitle. A subtitle was added to the METHODS section.
5. The METHODS section should not contain results (such as the number of subjects). Numerical data were removed from the METHODS section and included only in the RESULTS section.
6. The METHODS should describe in detail the microbial testing process used in this study. It is presumed that this included stool antigen testing. A more detailed description of the Helicobacter pylori rapid test procedure was included as suggested.
7. Similarly, the bioimpedance testing procedures were described in greater detail.
8. The research period was modified from July to November 2024.
9. Additionally, any study period must include the specific day of the month in addition to the month itself. For example, did the study period begin on July 1 or July 31?
10. The TABLE titles were modified to make them more comprehensive, as suggested.
11. On page 6 and elsewhere, the manuscript repeatedly refers to the presence of the bacteria. However, a stool antigen test platform (rather than direct microbial testing for the bacteria itself) was used.
    Explanation: The prevalence of infection in the study was determined through stool antigen detection of the bacteria, which unequivocally confirms that these patients had a bacterial infection. Therefore, in our discussion, we can use the term Helicobacter pylori-positive patients, as the detection of these antigens is synonymous with bacterial infection.
12. There are internal inconsistencies in the data. These inconsistencies were corrected.
13. The DISCUSSION section also needs revision for better readability and clarity. The discussion was revised and rewritten to enhance clarity and comprehension.
14. Please review all references and ensure they comply with the journal’s guidelines; many need corrections. All references were reviewed and corrected according to the provided instructions.

We hope to answer all your doubts about the manuscript.