title: Effects of alpha tocopherol and ascorbic acid on Helicobacter pylori colonization and the severity of gastric inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate the changes in histopathologic features, concentrations of vitamins C and E in gastric mucosa, and total antioxidant capacity of the body after ingestion of ascorbic acid and alpha tocopherol in patients with Helicobacter pylori.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with H. pylori-positive nonulcer dyspepsia were included in this study. Tissue samples were taken from the lesser and greater curvature in both prepyloric antrum and corpus for histopathologic examination and measurement of vitamins C and E concentrations. Blood samples were obtained for measurement of the total antioxidant capacity of the body. The patients were given vitamin C 500 mg BID and vitamin E 200 IU BID for 4 weeks orally. At the end of the 4th week, the initial procedures were repeated. Histopathologic examination of the tissue samples were carried out by two pathologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean vitamins C and E concentrations in gastric mucosa at the 4th week were higher than those at the beginning (p = .000 and p = .006, respectively). Mean total antioxidant capacity of the body at the beginning and that at the 4th week were similar (p = .689). H. pylori intensity in the antrum at the beginning was higher than that at the 4th week for both pathologists (p = .007 and p = .039). Neutrophilic activity in the antrum at the beginning was higher than that at the 4th week for both pathologists (p = .000 and p = .025). Neutrophilic activity in the corpus at the beginning was higher than that at the 4th week for pathologist 1 (p = .033), and they were similar for pathologist 2 (p = .763).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings that H. pylori intensity and neutrophilic activity decrease through increasing gastric ascorbic acid and alpha tocopherol concentrations suggest that supplementation with vitamins C and E increases the eradication rates via impairing the microenvironment created by the bacteria and facilitating the diffusion of antibiotics into gastric mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Kocaeli Derince Research and Education Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey. drsezikli@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sezikli
authors.forename: Züleyha Akkan
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Çetinkaya
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Güzelbulut
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Çimen
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Özcan
authors.forename: Selvinaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Özkara
authors.forename: Atakan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yeşil
authors.forename: Gülistan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gümrükçü
authors.forename: Osman Metin
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Ipçioğlu
authors.forename: Hayrünnisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sezikli
authors.forename: Ayşe Oya Kurdaş
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ovünç
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid