Helicobacter Pylori-associated gastritis and the ascorbic acid concentration in gastric juice

Abstract

Patients infected with Helicobacter pylori have abnormally low ascorbic acid concentration in gastric juice. Low vitamin C intake and Helicobacter pylori infection have been related to an increased risk of gastric carcinoma. This report examines the association between ascorbic acid and Helicobacter pylori in patients referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Elevated gastric pH and the damage to the gastric surface epithelium were inversely associated with the ascorbic acid concentration in gastric juice. We postulate that these two factors mediate the ascorbic acid-decreasing effect of Helicobacter pylori. Patients with nonpremalignant conditions (normal gastric histology, diffuse antral gastritis, or duodenal ulcer) had lower gastric pH, less damage to the gastric epithelium, and higher levels of ascorbic acid in gastric juice than patients with atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, or dysplasia.

The Risk of Gastric Cancer in Patients with Duodenal and Gastric Ulcer: Research Progresses and Clinical Implications

“…It has been shown in previous studies that in patients with diffuse antral gastritis, a condition commonly associated with duodenal ulcer, ascorbic acid levels in gastric juice were normal despite the presence of H. pylori and inflammation. In contrast, patients with pan-gastritis had significantly lower gastric juice ascorbic acid concentrations compared with those with diffuse antral gastritis [49,50]. Interestingly, a recent study also found that patients with diffuse antral gastritis had normal levels of ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid in gastric juice.…”

Nitrogenous chemicals generated from acidification of saliva influence transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations

“…Ascorbic acid is actively secreted in gastric juice [20]. Its median value in subjects with a healthy stomach is 250 mmol/l and is substantially lower in subjects with H. pylori infection [21], atrophic gastritis [22] and those of black ethnicity [23].…”

Pathogenesis of Pre-Neoplastic Lesions of the Stomach: Targets for Prevention

“…Vitamin C, being an important antioxidant in diet, is a logical anti-cancer agent in the stomach. Patients with a normal stomach were found to have lower gastric pH and higher levels of ascorbic acid in gastric juice than patients with atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, or dysplasia [18] . The reduction in gastric vitamin C concentrations is also found to be related to the presence of H. pylori and the cagA antibody status of the individual [19] .…”