A possible association of low pepsinogen I and pepsinogen I/II with low and high body weight in Japanese men

Background: It is unknown whether low serum pepsinogen I and pepsinogen I/II ratio (PGI-PGI/II), a marker for chronic atrophic gastritis, is associated with low or high body weight.

Methods: We investigated the association between low PGI-PGI/II and both ends of the spectrum of body mass index (BMI) in 819 apparently healthy Japanese men aged 20-75 years who received a medical check-up in 2008.

Results: In univariate analysis, serum pepsinogen I, but not pepsinogen II or pepsinogen I/II, was significantly reduced across the increasing BMI categories. Multivariate regression analysis showed that, compared with BMI 21.0-22.9 kg/m(2), BMI of 20.9 kg/m(2) and less or 25.0 kg/m(2) and above was significantly associated with low PGI-PGI/II (pepsinogen I<50 ng/ml combined with PG I/II<3.0), even after adjustment for relevant confounders. These associations showed a J-shaped curve against BMI.

Conclusion: Low PGI-PGI/II may be independently associated with both low body weight and obesity in Japanese men.