Vitamin E concentrations in the human stomach and duodenum--correlation with Helicobacter pylori infection.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is an important endogenous antioxidant and may also act as an anticarcinogen.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the vitamin E status of subjects with, and without, gastroduodenal inflammation and Helicobacter pylori infection.


METHODS
36 patients undergoing routine gastroscopy for investigation of dyspepsia.


METHODS
High performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection was used to determine alpha-tocopherol values.


RESULTS
In H pylori negative subjects with normal gastroduodenal histology (n = 11) median alpha-tocopherol values (ng/mg tissue weight) were significantly higher in the corpus (16.4, interquartile range (IQR) 8.9-22.6) than in the antrum (3.0, IQR 2.6-6.7, p = 0.001) or duodenum (6.7, IQR 2.5-8.4, p = 0.001). H pylori infection (n = 19) was associated with a reduction in the corpus alpha-tocopherol values (median 8.3, IQR 4.9-13.7, p < 0.05) but there was no significant change in the antral concentrations although this was the main site of inflammation and neutrophil activity. Duodenal alpha-tocopherol values were not significantly changed in the presence of duodenitis or gastric H pylori infection. alpha-Tocopherol was not detected in the gastric juice of any of the subjects. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations in the H pylori negative subjects (median 10.4 mg/l, IQR 7.2-11.9) were not significantly different to the values in the H pylori positive subjects (median 11.1 mg/l, IQR 7.6-12.7).


CONCLUSIONS
Concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in H pylori negative subjects are higher in the corpus than in the antrum or duodenum. In the presence of predominantly antral H pylori infection and neutrophil activity the major change seen is a reduction in corpus alpha-tocopherol values while antral concentrations are maintained. These findings may reflect a mobilisation of antioxidant defences to the sites of maximal inflammation in the stomach.
Phull
P S
PS
Department of Gastroenterology, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex.
Price
A B
AB
Thorniley
M S
MS
Green
C J
CJ
Jacyna
M R
MR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004386:Duodenum / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013270:Stomach / Q000737:chemistry*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
D014810:Vitamin E