Scientists from the University of Glasgow found that fats found in our stomach could reduce the protective benefits of antioxidants including vitamin C. The research is being presented today, at the Society of Experimental Biology’s Annual Main Meeting.

Cancer in the proximal stomach has been increasing over the last 20 years. The researchers report that environmental factors such as diet play a role. Nitrite is also believed to be a pre-carcinogen for gastric cancer.

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is one antioxidant that protects against the formation of nitrite compounds by making it into nitric oxide. If the antioxidants aren’t available, nitrite would form spontaneously into nitrosating species which could target secondary amines and bile acids and forming carcinogenic N-nitrosocompounds.

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