Does nausea and vomiting of pregnancy play a role in the association found between maternal caffeine intake and fetal growth restriction?

The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and (a) fetal growth restriction; and (b) maternal caffeine metabolism and fetal growth restriction. A cohort of 2,643 pregnant women, aged 18-45 years, attending two UK maternity units between 8 and 12 weeks gestation, was recruited. A validated tool assessed caffeine intake at different stages of pregnancy and caffeine metabolism was assessed from a caffeine challenge test. Experience of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy was self-reported for each trimester. Adjustment was made for confounders, including salivary cotinine as a biomarker of current smoking status. There were no significant associations between fetal growth restriction and nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, even after adjustment for smoking and alcohol intake. There were no significant differences in the relationship between caffeine intake and fetal growth restriction between those experiencing symptoms of nausea and vomiting and those who did not, for either the first (p = 0.50) or second trimester (p = 0.61) after adjustment for smoking, alcohol intake and caffeine half-life. There were also no significant differences in the relationship between caffeine half-life and fetal growth restriction between those experiencing symptoms of nausea and vomiting and those who did not, for either the first trimester (p = 0.91) or the second trimester (p = 0.45) after adjusting for smoking, alcohol intake and caffeine intake. The results from this study show no evidence that the relationship between maternal caffeine intake and fetal growth restriction is modified by nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.

Plasma and esophageal mucosal levels of vitamin C: role in the pathogenesis and neoplastic progression of Barrett's esophagus.

Antioxidants may protect against the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Blood samples and endoscopic biopsies (squamous, Barrett's, and gastric mucosa) were obtained from 48 Barrett's esophagus (BE) patients, while 48 age- and sex-matched controls provided blood samples only. Plasma concentrations of vitamins A, C, and E were measured in all subjects, while vitamin C was measured in relation to the type of mucosa. Plasma total vitamin C level, but not vitamin A or E, was lower in BE patients compared to controls (P = 0.014). Tissue levels of total vitamin C were significantly lower in Barrett's compared with squamous mucosa (P = 0.047). A positive association was observed between plasma vitamin C and dietary intake of vitamin C, while there was an inverse association with alcohol consumption. The lower levels of vitamin C in plasma of BE patients and in Barrett's mucosa compared with squamous mucosa are consistent with oxidative stress being of importance in the pathogenesis and neoplastic progression of BE.

Comparison of plasma biomarkers with dietary assessment methods for fruit and vegetable intake.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the variability and validity of plasma-based biomarkers of antioxidant vitamin, and fruit and vegetable intake. SETTING: Leeds, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Bradford, England. SUBJECTS: A total of 54 free-living, nonsmoking women recruited from participants of the UK Women's Cohort Study (UKWCS). METHODS: Two fasting blood samples were taken at two time points, 18 months apart. A 4-day food diary was completed prior to the first blood sample and a 24-h recall was conducted at the time of the second blood collection. All blood samples were analysed for ascorbic acid and four carotenoids. Associations between antioxidant vitamin intake from all food sources and supplements, as well as fruit and vegetable intake, and plasma levels of the antioxidant vitamins were assessed. RESULTS: Using the 4-day diary, positive associations were found between micronutrient intake from all food sources and plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid (P<0.01) and beta-carotene (P<0.01). No associations were seen between plasma micronutrient levels and specifically fruit and vegetable intakes. In general, associations between plasma levels and intakes assessed by the 24-h recall were less marked than those based on the 4-day diary. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma ascorbic acid and beta-carotene are good indicators of previous vitamin C and beta-carotene intake, from all food sources. However, caution is required in extrapolating these results to include individual food groups, rich in these vitamins. The results imply that the practice of using plasma biomarkers simply as a proxy measure of dietary intake is not valid and emphasise that plasma biomarkers are not simply a reflection of dietary intake, but also of a number of physiological processes. Biomarkers in nutrition epidemiological studies are however useful to measure nutrient status at the tissue level.

The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on levels of DNA damage in gastric epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection leads to an increased risk of developing gastric cancer. The mechanism through which this occurs is not known. We aimed to determine the effect of H. pylori and gastritis on levels of DNA damage in gastric epithelial cells. METHODS: Epithelial cells were isolated from antral biopsies from 111 patients. DNA damage was determined using single cell gel electrophoresis and the proportion of cells with damage calculated before and 6 weeks after eradication of H. pylori. Cell suspensions generated by sequential digestions of the same biopsies were assayed to determine the effect of cell position within the gastric pit on DNA damage. RESULTS: DNA damage was significantly higher in normal gastric mucosa than in H. pylori gastritis [median (interquartile range) 65% (58.5-75.8), n = 18 and 21% (11.9-29.8), n = 65, respectively, p <.001]. Intermediate levels were found in reactive gastritis [55.5% (41.3-71.7), n = 13] and H. pylori negative chronic gastritis [50.5% (36.3-60.0), n = 15]. DNA damage rose 6 weeks after successful eradication of H. pylori[to 39.5% (26.3-51.0), p =.007] but was still lower than in normal mucosa. Chronic inflammation was the most important histological factor that determined DNA damage. DNA damage fell with increasing digestion times (r = -.92 and -.88 for normal mucosa and H. pylori gastritis, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Lower levels of DNA damage in cells isolated from H. pylori infected gastric biopsies may be a reflection of increased cell turnover in H. pylori gastritis. The investigation of mature gastric epithelial cells for DNA damage is unlikely to elucidate the mechanisms underlying gastric carcinogenesis.

Dietary antioxidants and DNA damage in patients on long-term acid-suppression therapy: a randomized controlled study.

Free radicals and reactive species produced in vivo can trigger cell damage and DNA modifications resulting in carcinogenesis. Dietary antioxidants trap these species limiting their damage. The present study evaluated the role of vitamins C and E in the prevention of potentially premalignant modifications to DNA in the human stomach by supplementing patients who, because of hypochlorhydria and possible depletion of gastric antioxidants, could be at increased risk of gastric cancer. Patients undergoing surveillance for Barrett's oesophagus (n 100), on long-term proton pump inhibitors were randomized into two groups: vitamin C (500 mg twice/d) and vitamin E (100 mg twice/d) for 12 weeks (the supplemented group) or placebo. Those attending for subsequent endoscopy had gastric juice, plasma and mucosal measurements of vitamin levels and markers of DNA damage. Seventy-two patients completed the study. Plasma ascorbic acid, total vitamin C and vitamin E were elevated in the supplemented group consistent with compliance. Gastric juice ascorbic acid and total vitamin C levels were raised significantly in the supplemented group (P=0.01) but supplementation had no effect on the mucosal level of this vitamin. However, gastric juice ascorbic acid and total vitamin C were within normal ranges in the unsupplemented group. Mucosal malondialdehyde, chemiluminescence and DNA damage levels in the comet assay were unaffected by vitamin supplementation. In conclusion, supplementation does not affect DNA damage in this group of patients. This is probably because long-term inhibition of the gastric proton pump alone does not affect gastric juice ascorbate and therefore does not increase the theoretical risk of gastric cancer because of antioxidant depletion.