Helicobacter pylori infection reduces systemic availability of dietary vitamin C

Objective Helicobacter pylori infection is recognized to lower the concentr ation of vitamin C in gastric juice. The objective of this study was to ass ess the effect of the infection on the systemic availability of dietary vit amin C. Methods The study involved 1106 men and women aged 25-74 randomly recruited from the population of north Glasgow. Their H. pylori status, dietary vita min C intake calculated from a food frequency questionnaire and plasma vita min C concentration were measured. Correction was made for potential confou nding factors such as age, sex, smoking and social status. Results The mean plasma vitamin C concentration in those who were H. pylori -positive was only 65% of that in those classified negative. Although partl y explained by differences in age, sex, social class, smoking and vitamin C intake, the systemic reduction was observed across almost all sub-groups a fter stratification. Correction for all these factors still gave a plasma v itamin C level for H. pylori positives which was only 80% of that for negat ives (P < 0.0001), Conclusions H. pylori substantially impairs the bioavailability of vitamin C, This, together with the reduced vitamin C intake of H. pylori-positive s ubjects, markedly reduces the plasma vitamin C level of infected subjects. The reduced circulating levels of vitamin C in H. pylori-infected subjects may contribute to the aetiology of gastric cancer, as well as other disease s associated with antioxidant deficiency. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 13: 2 33-237 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.