The probable finding of these results could be due to some possible mechanisms by which HP affects iron metabolism by decreased absorption resulting from chronic gastritis, decreased gastric juice ascorbic acid concentration, increased hepcidin production associated with HP gastritis, uptake of iron by HP for growth, and decreased availability of iron by sequestration of iron in lactoferrin in the gastric mucosa and bacterium host competition for dietary iron supply [22]. Here, LTF is linked to gastritis.