EFFECT OF ERADICATION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI ON GASTRIC-JUICE ASCORBIC-ACID CONCENTRATIONS

Ascorbic acid, the reduced form of vitamin C, may protect against gast ric cancer and is secreted by the normal stomach. Secretion is impaire d in Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) associated chronic gastritis. This study examined if eradication of H pylori improves gastric juice asco rbate values. Fasting gastric juice and plasma samples were collected at endoscopy from patients participating in trials of H pylori eradica tion for duodenal ulcer disease and intestinal metaplasia before and u p to 15 months after attempted eradication. Ascorbic acid and total vi tamin C concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chro matography. In 12 patients in whom H pylori was successfully eradicate d gastric juice ascorbate and total vitamin C concentrations and the r atio of juice to plasma vitamin C rose after treatment. Analysis after treatment suggested that the rise was greatest in patients with high final plasma vitamin C concentrations, even though these did not chang e with treatment. By contrast, in 22 patients in whom H pylori eradica tion was unsuccessful there were no significant changes in juice or pl asma concentrations after treatment. It is concluded that successful e radication of H pylori improves secretion of vitamin C into gastric ju ice. It is speculated that this increases protection against gastric c ancer.