Bioavailability of Vitamins E and C: Does Helicobacter pylori Infection Play a Role?

Abstract

Background: While the association between bioavailability of vitamins E and C and Helicobacter pylori infection has been extensively researched in gastritis and gastric cancer patients, little is known about this relationship in asymptomatic adults. Aim: To investigate the effect of H. pylori infection on bioavailability of vitamins E and C in asymptomatic adults. Methods: Volunteers from the University of Toronto, aged 18–45 years, were screened, for their H. pylori infection status. H. pylori-negative (n = 32) and asymptomatic H. pylori-positive (n = 27) participants received vitamin C (500 mg) and vitamin E (400 IU) supplements daily for 28 days. Plasma vitamins C, E and thiols concentrations were assessed before (baseline) and after supplementation. Results: Postsupplementation plasma levels of vitamin C and E were significantly higher than presupplementation levels in both groups. Yet, changes in plasma vitamins E and C were not significantly different between the two groups [vitamin C (µmol/l): 13.97 ± 16.86 vs. 20.87 ± 27.66, p > 0.05; vitamin E (µmol/l): 15.52 ± 9.4 vs. 14.47 ± 15.77; p > 0.05 for H. pylori-negative and H. pylori-positive groups, respectively]. In addition, no significant difference was found in plasma thiols levels between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that H. pylori does not influence antioxidants bioavailability in its asymptomatic stages of infection until a factor or combination of factors triggers the inflammation cascade which may lead to increased oxidative stress and possibly reduced bioavailability of vitamins E and C.