Gastritis can be acute or chronic and can have a varied etiology, including acid reflux.1 Ranitidine has been found to be effective in the treatment of gastritis.2

The association between chronic gastritis and chemosensory receptors appears to hold promise for the prediction and treatment of the condition. An ion channel - transient receptor potential melastatin member channel 5 (TRPM5) - may be a chemosensor in the gastrointestinal tract. Trace elements and minerals are known to alter ion channel activity.

Therefore, a study was conducted to ascertain trace element and mineral levels as per TRPM5 Asn235Ser missense polymorphism distributions in patients with H. pylori (+) and (-) gastritis.3 The study also aimed to determine their association with disease pathogenesis.

• Overall, in 109 patients with gastritis [H. pylori (+) n=64; H. pylori (-) n=45], TRPM5 Asn235Ser polymorphism was identified. However, there was no difference between the two groups.
• The two groups had differences in the serum trace element (Se, Zn, Cu, Mg, and Cu/Zn) levels.
• pylori (+) patients had high serum Se and Cu/Zn ratios. Cu/Zn ratio can serve as a marker of bacterial inflammation.
• The level of Se was statistically significant in the serum of H. pylori (+) patients having the TT and CT genotypes. The levels of Zn, Cu, and Mg were significant in H. pylori (-) patients.
• pylori (+) patients had significantly higher neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio (NLR), in comparison with H. pylori (-) patients. NLR can serve as a marker of inflammation.

The study found differences between the serum trace element levels in H. pylori (+) and H. pylori (-) patients.

There appeared to be no association of the Asn235Ser variant of the TRPM5 gene with gastritis.

References

1. Azer SA, Akhondi H. Gastritis. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.
2. Hadi S. Clinical investigation of ranitidine in patients with gastritis. Clin Ther. Sep-Oct 1989;11(5):590-4.
3. Koc G, Soyocak A, Ergun DD, et al. Association of TRPM5 Asn235Ser Polymorphism and Trace Elements/Minerals in Chronic Gastritis Patients: a Case-Control Study. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2022 Feb;200(2):535-542.