ascorbic-acid and Dyspepsia

Seventy-six patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in first complete remission after induction and consolidation by daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside received oral arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3))-based maintenance. Three regimens were used: oral As(2)O(3) (10 mg/day, regimen A, n = 20), oral As(2)O(3) plus all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA, 45 mg/m(2) per day, regimen AA, n = 19), and oral As(2)O(3) plus ATRA plus ascorbic acid (1000 mg/day, regimen AAA, n = 37), each given for 2 weeks every 2 months for 2 years. Patients receiving A, AA, and AAA maintenance did not differ significantly in clinicopathologic features and risk factors. Headache, dyspepsia, reversible liver function derangement, and herpes zoster reactivation were adverse effects observed during maintenance. QTc prolongation and arrhythmias were not encountered. At a median follow-up of 24 months (range, 1-115 months), there were 8 relapses. The 3-year leukemia-free-survival, event-free-survival, and overall-survival were 87.7%, 83.7%, and 90.6%, respectively. Adverse prognostic factors included male gender for leukemia-free-survival, and unrelated cancers for overall survival. Age, presentation WBC count and platelet count, and the type of oral As(2)O(3) maintenance regimens had no impact on survivals. Prolonged oral As(2)O(3) maintenance was feasible and safe and resulted in favorable outcomes when used with a simple induction and consolidation regimen compared with other protocols composed of multiple chemotherapeutic agents.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Arsenic Trioxide; Arsenicals; Ascorbic Acid; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Disease-Free Survival; Dyspepsia; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Headache; Humans; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Oxides; Recurrence; Remission Induction; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Tretinoin

Dietary calcium and antioxidants have been suggested as protective agents against colorectal cancer. This has been supported by animal experimental studies, case control and cohort studies.. In a prospective intervention study of colorectal adenomas, and intermediary stage in colorectal carcinogenesis, 116 polyp-bearing patients received a placebo-controlled daily mixture of beta-carotene 15 mg, vitamin C 150 mg, vitamin E 75 mg, selenium 101 microg, and calcium (1.6 g daily) as carbonate for a period of 3 years with annual colonoscopic follow-up to test if the mixture was able to reduce polyp growth or recurrence. All polyps of < 10 mm at enrollment or follow-up were left unresected until the end of the study.. 87-91% of the patients attended the annual endoscopic follow-up investigations, and 19% of the patients dropped out of the medical intervention. The rest consumed 85% of the total amount of tablets over the 3 years. The fecal calcium concentration was 2.3-2.7 times higher in patients taking active medication compared to the placebo group. Diet registration showed that, when adding the intake of antioxidants and calcium from diet and intervention, there was a significant difference between the intake of these substances in the active and the placebo group. No difference was detected in the growth of adenomas between the active and the placebo group from year to year and for the total study period. Moreover, there was no effect on polyps of < 5 or 5-9 mm, or on polyps in the different colonic segments analyzed separately. A reduced growth of adenomas was found in patients <60 years of age taking active medication (n = 8) compared to those taking placebo (n = 6; mean difference 2.3 mm; 95% CI 0.26-4.36). There was a significantly lower number of patients free of new adenomas in the placebo group compared to those taking active medication as tested by logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis (log-rank test p value 0.035). Subgroup analysis showed that only the group of patients with no family history of colorectal cancer, those with only one adenoma at inclusion, and those <65 years benefitted from the intervention medication.. The study did not find an overall effect on polyp growth. Our data, however, may support a protective role of calcium and antioxidants on new adenoma formation.

Topics: Adenoma; Aged; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Calcium, Dietary; Cell Division; Colonic Polyps; Colorectal Neoplasms; Constipation; Diarrhea; Diet; Double-Blind Method; Dyspepsia; Energy Intake; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Patient Compliance; Patient Dropouts; Prospective Studies; Time Factors; Vitamin A

The pathological processes by which Helicobacter pylori infection leads to the development of gastroduodenal disease are still incompletely understood. Oxygen-derived free radicals are important mediators of inflammation and potential carcinogens. Furthermore, dietary studies have suggested that antioxidant vitamins may protect against gastric cancer.. To determine plasma free radical activity and antioxidant vitamin levels in dyspeptic patients and to correlate the results with H. pylori infection and tobacco smoking.. Forty-three patients undergoing routine endoscopy for investigation of dyspepsia.. Plasma free radical activity was determined by measurement of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). Plasma samples were also assayed for the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E. Gastroduodenal biopsies were obtained from all patients for histological examination.. Plasma TBARS levels were significantly higher in H. pylori positive versus negative subjects (P < 0.03), smokers versus non-smokers (P < 0.04) and males versus females (P < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis revealed that after correcting for male sex and smoking there was no significant association between plasma free radical activity and H. pylori infection. Smokers had significantly lower levels of plasma vitamin C than non-smokers (P< 0.05); no differences were seen in vitamin A and E levels. Gender and H. pylori infection did not significantly affect plasma antioxidant vitamin levels. Gastroduodenal disease was present in all of the smokers compared with 67% of the non-smokers (P < 0.05); 69% of the smokers were H. pylori positive versus 53% of the non-smokers.. Tobacco smoking and male sex, both recognized risk factors for gastroduodenal disease, appear to be the major determinants of increased plasma free radical activity in dyspeptic subjects, rather than H. pylori infection. The reason for the higher prevalence of H. pylori infection and gastroduodenal disease in dyspeptic smokers is unclear but may relate to weakened antioxidant defences.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Dyspepsia; Female; Free Radicals; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Smoking; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; Vitamin A; Vitamin E; Vitamins

Ascorbic acid, the reduced form of vitamin C, may protect against gastric cancer. Accordingly, this study assessed the variability of ascorbic acid and vitamin C in the gastric juice of 77 patients with dyspepsia. There was a vitamin C concentration gradient from gastric juice down to plasma in subjects with normal gastric mucosa, but not in those with chronic gastritis. Patients with chronic gastritis had significantly lower gastric concentrations of vitamin C and ascorbic acid, and ascorbic acid concentrations were especially low in subjects with hypochlorhydria. The presence of the concentration gradient suggests that a mechanism for the secretion of vitamin C into the stomach exists. This is compromised by chronic gastritis. The very low ascorbic acid concentrations in hypochlorhydria may be a consequence of oxidation by bacterial nitrite. Those patients who by the Correa model are at greatest risk for gastric cancer have the lowest gastric levels of ascorbic acid.

Topics: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Ascorbic Acid; Biopsy; Dyspepsia; Female; Gastric Acid; Gastric Juice; Gastric Mucosa; Gastritis; Humans; Male; Smoking

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anorexia Nervosa; Ascorbic Acid; Asthenia; Dyspepsia; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Phosphatidylcholines

Topics: Aged; Anorexia Nervosa; Ascorbic Acid; Asthenia; Betaine; Cinnamates; Dyspepsia; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Phosphatidylcholines

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Carotenoids; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dyspepsia; Vitamin A

Topics: Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Dyspepsia; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Iron; Male; Middle Aged; Peptic Ulcer; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Topics: Ammonium Compounds; Ascorbic Acid; Betaine; Dyspepsia; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Toxicology