Inhibitory Effect of Sodium Ascorbate on Ethylurea and Sodium Nitrite Carcinogenesis and Negative Findings in Progeny After Intestinal Inoculation of Precursors Into Pregnant Hamsters2

Abstract

To assess their carcinogenic effects, the ethylnitrosourea (ENU) precursors, ethylurea and sodium nitrite, [were administered to pregnant hamsters as a single intragastic] dose on day 15 of gestation, or introduced into the cecum on day 14. Since sodium ascorbate (NaASC) inhibits the biosynthesis of nitrosamides, identical doses of the precursors were given concomitantly with NaASC. Progeny of mothers treater intragastrically developed significant incidences of neurogenic tumors of the peripheral nervous system, with a predominance in females. The concurrent administration of NaASC with ENU precursors prevented carcinogenic effects in the progency, whereas the simultaneous inoculation of the precursors into the cecum produced no carcinogenic effects in the offspring.

Childhood Brain Tumors and Maternal Cured Meat Consumption in Pregnancy: Differential Effect by GlutathioneS-Transferases

“…Animal models suggest species-specific periods of susceptibility. They also indicate that nitrosation-inhibitors such as vitamin C prevent neurogenic tumors in offspring of rodents simultaneously exposed to nitrite and nitrosatable ureas during pregnancy (28). Therefore, it is a limitation that our modest sample size combined with a nearly universal use of vitamin supplements precluded examination of the observed interactions by supplement use.…”

Final Report of the Safety Assessment of L-Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate as Used in Cosmetics1

“…Animals given cholosterol with 3-hydroxy-5-carboxybenzoquinone-(2-hydroxy-6-carboxy-anil)-(1) imide-(4) showed no higher incidence of bladder tumors than those mice implanted with cholesterol only, with no effect of ascorbate in the drinking water (Schlegel et al 1970). Rustia (1975) studied the effect of Sodium Ascorbate on the carcinogenic effect of ethylnitrosourea precursors. Ethylurea (EU) and sodium nitrite at doses of 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg in distilled water, respectively, were administered to one group of pregnant Syrian hamsters by intragastric intubation.…”

Orthomolecular Medicine

“…In some parts of the United States dimethylnitrosamine levels rise to 0.1 ixg/ cu m of "clear" air, which equals about 1.0 to 1.4 /xg/ person/day; by comparison, a pack of cigarettes contains around 0.8 tig and 4 slices of nitrite-preserved bacon contain about 5.5 /xg dimethylnitrosamine (296). A variety of experimental tumors of the alimentary tract, liver, lung, and urinary bladder can be produced by nitrosamines (218,219,234,275), and a number of nitrosation products are carcinogenic in vivo, including those of citrulline, ephedrine, sarcosine, morpholine, methylurea, piperazine, pyrrolidine, aminopyrine, diethylamine, and dimethylamine (347). Nitrosation is usually studied under simulated gastric conditions, but Hill ef al.…”