HAIR LOSS? DIET AND FOOD SUPPLEMENTS CAN HELP YOU. LET'S SEE WHAT ARE THE MOST USEFUL...

In case of hair loss or hair weakness, more and more consumers resort to vitamins and food supplements specific for treating hair loss and hair thinning. Among the many nutrients and the many food supplements on the market, it is essential to know which remedy can be really useful and effective against hair thinning and hair loss, even from the regulatory point of view. And judging from data collected by European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) , the nutrients that can be really useful are few. Let's see what they are.

Hair thinning and hair loss are related to genetic and hormonal factors (case in point is androgenetic alopecia in men) but also diet can play an important role. A diet deficient in certain nutrients, which are essential for hair health, can lead to hair weakening or hair loss, and in some cases even to alopecia.

In case of hair loss or hair thinning, it is important, for both men and women, making a kind of "examination of conscience" on our diet and eating habits.

Some nutritional deficiencies can cause or contribute along with other factors to hair weakening and hair loss.

What are the nutrients really effective for the health of your hair and indirectly useful for hair loss prevention and treatment ?

Among the many nutrients advertised as effective remedies against hair loss and baldness, for the moment only Biotin, Zinc and Selenium can boast, from the regulatory point of view, and then on the label, Health Claims about the maintenance of normal hair authorized by the European Food Safety Authority ( EFSA).

The precise Healt Claim  is " .... contributes to the maintenance of normal hair " and if today are very few the nutrients for which this claim has been authorized, we should consider that the regulatory situation could change with the evaluation of new scientific data.

Let's see in detail how these nutrients, normally taken at sufficient levels with a varied and balanced diet, are useful and effective in maintaining healty hair and what are the best dietary sources of these nutrients.

Biotin (Vitamin B8 or vitamin H): Biotin is a B-group vitamin, that can be useful to promote the growth and health of hair as it is proven that biotin deficiency, a rare nutritional disorder, causes, among other symptoms, hair thinning and hair loss progression (alopecia).

A 1-2 months Biotin deficiency treatment, based on dietary intervention or food supplements, leads to the growth of normal and healthy hair.

Dietary sources of biotin: The main dietary sources of biotin, that shouldn’t miss in your diet, are milk , dairy products , egg yolk and seafood . The bioavailability of biotin in plants is lower.

Selenium: Selenium is a trace element, essential for many physiological functions.

Selenium deficiency is associated with various disorders including hair weakening and hair loss up to baldness. In case of selenium deficiency, intake of selenium is able to reverse all these deficiency symptoms .

Dietary sources of selenium: Among the best dietary sources of selenium we can find food of animal origin such as fish (tuna , sardines, sole) , shellfish (lobster, shrimp, mussels) and liver.

Dietary sources of plant origin are mainly beans, corn , rice and lentils.

They are less rich in selenium than animal sources and selenium content varies depending on terrain type. 

Zinc: Zinc is an essential component of proteins and enzymes with antioxidant or catalytic functions .

Zinc deficiency causes , among many symptoms, hair loss, especially patchy hair loss (alopecia areata).

Dietary sources of Zinc: the main dietary sources of animal origin are grana cheese, pork or beef liver, turkey meat , lamb or pork. Among the food sources of plant origin, pecans, beans, peas and peanuts stand out.

In addition to these nutrients, that can be naturally found in food, some hair supplements contain even herbal extracts, such as Serenoa repens extract .

Serenoa repens is now the most popular among the natural inhibitor of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase (5AR), which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.

For this reason, despite the lack of appropriate clinical trials, Serenoa repens is widely publicized as a powerful remedy for benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia (AGA), not only by producers but even by hair specialists, that promote Serenoa repens extract as a safer and natural alternative to finasteride, a synthetic 5 -alpha- reductase inhibitor.

Sources:

EFSA Journal

J Cutan Aesthet Surg.2009 Jan-Jun; 2(1): 31–32.doi

Serenoa Repens: Does It have Any Role in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia?

Sundaram Murugusundram

www.inran.it

Image Courtesy of ©Andres Rodriguez - Dreamstime Stock Photos

HIGH HOMOCYSTEINE, CARDIOVASCULAR RISK AND DIET

Hyperhomocysteinemia (high blood levels of homocysteine) is an emerging cardiovascular risk factor, which may depend on nutrient deficiencies in the diet.

Some nutrients (choline, betaine and some B-group vitamins) are essential to keep homocysteine blood levels under control and for this reason they can boast the Health Claim "contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism " , authorized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the basis of substantial scientific evidence.

Homocysteine is a non-protein amino acid biosynthesized during metabolism of methionine, an essential sulfur amino acid that is taken with diet.

The blood level of homocysteine is the result of a close relationship between dietary habits and genetic predisposing factors and an high level of homocysteine in the blood may depend on the lack of folate and other B-group vitamins in the diet.

Hyperhomocysteinemia (high blood levels of homocysteine) is now considered an emerging, strong and independent cardiovascular risk factor , associated with the onset of cardiovascular disease (coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction), cerebrovascular disease (stroke) and peripheral vascular disease (arterial and venous  thrombosis).

It is estimated that people with hyperhomocysteinemia have about twice the normal risk of developing cardiovascular disease ​​and this condition is now recognized by the scientific community as a further risk factor in addition to other well-known cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol levels, smoking).

In addition, some evidence suggests that people with elevated homocysteine levels have twice the normal risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

A review of the scientific researchers of the Iberoamerican Cochrane Network, aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of interventions designed to reduce blood homocysteine levels ​​in people with or without pre-existing cardiovascular disease, showed, for the moment, no evidence in support of homocysteine lowering ​​treatment for the prevention of cardiovascular events.

Hyperhomocysteinemia, however, remains a condition associated with an increased cardiovascular risk, and it’s considered a cardiovascular risk marker in various screening programs: it is therefore important to know what are the nutrients (vitamins and others) that help to keep under control blood homocysteine levels and whose deficiency can be associated with hyperhomocysteinemia.

Some nutrients, after European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) examination and authorization, can boast the health claim "contributes to normal homocysteine ​​metabolism".

Let's see below what they are, how they work and where they can be found (food sources).

Betaine: It originates from choline oxidation in mammals and can act as a methyl group donor in the homocysteine ​​remethylation process in the liver.

This mechanism of action supports the evidence from human studies that shows a significant lowering of blood homocysteine ​​levels after administration of betaine.

It should be remembered, however, that a daily dose of 6 g of betaine seems to lead to an increase in total blood cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, which doesn’t occur at significantly lower doses (4 g /day). For this reason an additional warning on the label of betaine supplements is necessary.

Food sources of betaine: Quinoa, beetroot, broccoli , spinach, cereals and seafood.

Choline: It is a precursor of betaine, whose mechanism of action on homocysteine ​​metabolism is known.

For this reason, a choline-deficient diet is associated with elevated homocysteine levels ​​and studies showed an inverse correlation between dietary choline intake and blood homocysteine levels.

Food sources of choline: egg yolk, soybeans, liver, veal and turkey, lecithin.

Folic acid and folates: 5 -methyl-tetrahydrofolate is an important intermediate of folate-dependent metabolic pathway for the production of methionine from homocysteine.

Food sources of folic acid and folate: offal (kidney , liver) , green leafy vegetables ( lettuce , spinach, broccoli ), legumes and eggs.

Vitamin B12: methylcobalamin, a coenzyme form of vitamin B12 , is also involved in the methylation of homocysteine ​​to methionine, which requires as cofactors both folate and vitamin B12.

Food Sources of Vitamin B12: animal foods, especially liver.

Vitamin B6: This nutrient is essential for an alternative metabolic pathway for remethylation of homocysteine ​​to methionine (transsulfuration pathway).

Food sources of Vitamin B6: foods containing whole grain flours , some tropical fruits (avocados, bananas), hazelnuts , wheat germ, brewer's yeast and carrots, but also rice, lentils, tuna, salmon and shrimp.

In conclusion, deficiency of folate and folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, choline and betaine is the basis of an altered methylation of homocysteine​​.

Homocysteine, after an initial intracellular accumulation, is exported into the blood in amounts dependent on the severity of the deficiency as well as coexistence of genetic factors or other factors that may interfere with homocysteine metabolism.

Therefore, in the case of hyperhomocysteinemia (high blood homocysteine levels​​) it can be useful to check if there is a deficiency of some of these nutrients, which are essential to ensure a normal homocysteine ​​metabolism and to keep low homocysteine levels, preventing hyperhomocysteinemia.

Jean-Charles Fruchart et al, Atherosclerosis: Evolving Vascular Biology and Clinical Implications - New Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis and Patient Risk Assessment. Circulation, Cap. 109, 2004

Interventi per ridurre l’omocisteina per la prevenzione degli eventi cardiovascolari, www.omocisteina.net, 2013

EFSA Journal 2011

http://www.sanihelp.it/enciclopedia/scheda/8984.html

http://www.saperesalute.it/network/tuttovitamine/glossario/vitamina-b6

http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/feb2002/nia-13.htm

High Homocysteine Levels May Double Risk of Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, New Report Suggests

Image Courtesy of rakratchada torsap/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

IODINE DEFICIENCY? NOT ONLY GOITER AND MENTAL RETARDATION...

Iodine is a trace element, essential for thyroid function and for the prevention of goiter, but not only.

Iodine is fundamental for the proper development of the nervous system and iodine deficiency, in addition to being a major cause of mental retardation and neurological and cognitive deficits, is linked to an increased risk of developing  certain cancers, including thyroid cancer and breast cancer.

Iodine deficiency is widespread in developing countries , particularly in Africa , Central Asia and South- East Asia, but it is a collective interest problem even in industrialized countries . Even in Europe, in fact, there are countries "at risk" , known for being iodine deficient, including Germany , France, Belgium and Italy . In the latter it is estimated that about 6 million people (more than 10 % of the population) .suffer from goiter .

Why is Iodine so important ?

Because an insufficient intake of iodine can cause health problems in all age groups.

The clinical manifestations of iodine deficiency, or " iodine deficiency disorders " (IDD) , whose severity and symptoms are variable depending on the degree of iodine deficiency, are numerous.

While in adolescent and adult iodine deficiency is the main cause of goiter and anomalies related to the thyroid gland malfunction (hypothyroidism) , an inadequate intake of iodine in pregnant women or during breast-feeding can have very serious consequences on the health of infants and children .

Iodine deficiency in the mother and the resulting hypothyroidism can cause  irreversible neurological damage during fetal development and newborn’s growth.

The neurological damage can occur with hearing loss, learning disabilities , mental retardation and myelination disorders.

Mild iodine deficiency , such as those commonly found in Italy and Europe, can lead to minor learning disabilities and neurological problems in children.

Iodine deficiency is also considered a risk factor not only for the development of benign thyroid diseases, but even for thyroid cancer: in areas where goiter is endemic due to iodine deficiency, there is , unfortunately, an increased incidence of thyroid cancer.

Iodine deficiency is also linked to an increased incidence of benign or malignant breast tissue disorders, ranging from fibrocystic breast disease to breast cancer.

How much iodine do I need to stay healthy ?

To ensure proper thyroid function, the daily iodine requirement for adolescents and adults is 150 micrograms.

This requirement is increased in specific physiological conditions such as pregnancy and lactation, in order to ensure the normal development of the child.

Where is iodine ?

The main source of iodine for humans is diet.

In this regard, we have to highlight that the iodine content of foods is extremely variable depending on the ground in the case of foods of plant origin, depending on supply in case of foods of animal origin .

The main dietary sources of iodine are saltwater fish and shellfish, followed by eggs, milk and meat. Fruits and vegetables contain smaller iodine amounts.

But we must not forget that there are some foods , called goitrogenic foods or goitrogens , which can inhibit the absorption of dietary iodine.

Goitrogenic foods are mainly cabbage, turnips , broccoli (Brassicaceae or Cruciferae) and their goitrogenic effect is attributed to the content of isothiocyanates , molecules that bind iodine.

However, Cruciferae are not to be demonized , since they have anti-cancer properties and since their consumption in the average diet is "limited".

The average amount of iodine in the diet is insufficient to cover the daily requirement of iodine.

How can I satisfy my iodine requirements? Should I take dietary supplements of iodine?

In order to prevent iodine deficiency is sufficient to consume iodized salt (iodine –enriched salt) in place of common salt, as part of a varied and balanced diet.

Iodized salt has the same taste of common salt but provides 30 micrograms / gram of iodine (one fifth of the daily requirement for adults) , this allows an adequate iodine intake with a salt intake which don’t exceed the recommended limits .

Therefore, the intake of iodized salt is not in conflict with the reduction of salt intake to no more than 4-5 grams per day, recommended for the prevention of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

On the health products market, dietary supplements with high amounts of iodine are available.

These, frequently algae-based, iodine supplements are marketed as slimming supplements and weight-loss aids, since iodine increases thyroid function and consequently metabolism.

These iodine supplements should always be used with caution and preferably under medical supervision. An excessive iodine intake may in fact aggravate a possible hyperthyroidism, even leading to serious consequences for your health.

I often eat at restaurants or out of home. Should I ask for iodized salt ?

Nowadays there should be no need.

We have to remember that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of iodized salt (ie enriched in iodine ) in the preparation of food with the aim of iodine deficiency disorders eradication.

So, in conclusion, in order to prevent iodine deficiency ... a little salt, but always iodized ...

Sources:

http://www.airc.it/tumori/tumore-alla-tiroide.asp

http://www.iss.it/

http://www.iss.it/osnami/

Iodine deficiency in pregnancy and the effects of maternal iodine supplementation on the offspring: a review; Michael B Zimmermann, Am J Clin Nutr 2009;89(suppl):668S–72S.

Iodine: Deficiency and Therapeutic Considerations, Lyn Patrick, ND, Alternative Medicine Review Volume 13, Number 2 2008

Iodio e Salute, Gruppo di Lavoro per l’attuazione della legge 21 marzo 2005, n.55 “Disposizioni finalizzate alla prevenzione del gozzo endemico ed altre patologie da carenza iodica” operativo presso il Ministero della Salute.

Image Courtesy of voraorn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

TOO MUCH HUNGER ? TRY AN HIGH MICRONUTRIENT DENSITY DIET ! IT'S HEALTHY AND REDUCES YOUR APPETITE

Here's an extra incentive to those who, while wanting to stay in shape, struggle with an healthy diet, rich in fruit, vegetables and "high nutritional value" foods.  

A diet high in micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) reduces the feeling of hunger, one of the biggest obstacles to weight loss.

And it is the feeling of hunger , rather than the availability of food in and of itself, that drives us to eat too much, introducing more calories than needed.

The feeling of hunger is the subject of a study aimed to assess the experience and perception of hunger before and after participants shifted from their previous usual diet to a high micronutrient density diet. 

The results of this descriptive study , conducted on a sample of no less than 768 participants, who changed their eating habits moving from a diet lower in micronutrients to a diet high in micronutrients, were amazing.

The diet rich in micronutrients , after an initial adjustment phase , showed to be associated with an experience of hunger significantly different than that one experienced during the usual diet,  of lower nutritional value.

In particular, during the high micronutrients density  diet, hunger was not an unpleasant experience, it was more easily tolerated and occurred with less frequency, even skipping meals .

This kind of diet, although lower in calories, limited thus the unpleasant aspects of hunger and appetite, in other words those aspects that make it so hard to follow a weight-loss diet.

Therefore it is not simply the calorie content, but it is mainly the micronutrient density of a diet that influences what we perceive as hunger .

This interesting study, whose results should be confirmed by further studies ,shows  how a diet of high nutritional value , rich in vitamins and minerals, can be considered a sustainable eating pattern that leads to weight loss and improved health.

That said , it is important to highlight which model of micronutrients rich diet was used for this study : a diet rich in colorful vegetables, beans, seeds, nuts, fruits and whole grains and low (less than 10% of total calories) in processed foods and animal products.

Then, the five famous and almost unattainable daily portions of fruit and vegetables are welcome, considering also that is always better to prefer seasonal fruit and vegetables, fresh and possibly zero-miles , and generally unrefined  and unprocessed foods, even in our kitchen.

Sources:

Fuhrman et al. Nutrition Journal 2010, 9:51

http://www.nutritionj.com/content/9/1/51

Changing perceptions of hunger on a high nutrient density diet

Image courtesy by StockImage/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

HIGH BLOOD SUGAR ? THE MOST EFFECTIVE REMEDIES

High blood sugar (glucose), or hyperglycemia , even in the range of borderline sugar levels, not diagnostic for diabetes, is a continuous and progressive risk factor for cardiovascular disease . To reduce blood sugar, in addition to a proper diet and to a healthy lifestyle , you can enlist the help of some nutrients , which can boast Health Claims authorized by EFSA in relation to glycemic control.

It is well known that type 2 diabetes is linked with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, especially of the coronary arteries, peripheral arteries and cerebrovascular system .

Scientific evidence indicates , however, that the alterations in blood sugar concentration that may precede diabetes - blood glucose borderline levels  ( 100/110 -125 mg / dl fasting) - show the clinical features of insulin resistance syndrome with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications.

It is not yet clear whether hyperglycemia is a direct cause of an increased cardiovascular risk or if it represents only a marker of a more complex metabolic condition .

What are recognized as effective natural remedies for high blood sugar ?

The "fundamental pillar" for the management of hyperglycemia and diabetes is not any medication but an healthy lifestyle .

An healthy and balanced diet (low in simple sugars such as glucose, in high-fat foods and high glycemic load foods ) and regular physical activity, important in reducing an eventual overweight.

There are also nutrients for which the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved health- claims, namely health benefits-related informations that a product can claim on its label, related to blood glucose control .

The nutrients that proved to be beneficial for blood glucose control influence glucose metabolism at different levels.

The chromium in its trivalent form is currently the only nutrient recognized useful for the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels.

How do you explain its usefulness? 

Hyperglycemia is a common symptom of chromium depletion in humans, which is reversed by the administration of chromium.

But in which foods can we find significant amounts of chromium ?

The largest and the most common food sources of chromium are mussels , oysters, dried dates , pears, whole wheat flour, tomatoes and broccoli.

Other nutrients were recognised useful by EFSA for the reduction of postprandial glycaemic responses (postprandial blood sugar ), an important index of cardiovascular risk.

Postprandial blood glucose is a normal physiological response of our body that varies in entity and duration and can be affected by meal type and individual characteristics.

There are several nutrients that, if included and consumed in meals, were able to reduce the postprandial blood glucose .

One of these nutrients is the hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) , a food additive , which showed significant effects in both non-diabetic obese subjects and in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes . The effective HPMC dose for this purpose is 4 grams per meal.

Even soluble fiber (arabinoxylan , beta -glucans from barley and oats , pectin) can boast the claim concerning the reduction of postprandial blood glucose .

The mechanism by which these nutrients could exert the claimed effect is related to the 

increased viscosity of the meal bolus when soluble fiber is added. This determines a delay in the absorption of nutrients, including glucose, resulting in a lower postprandial blood glucose.

While for arabinoxylan the health claim may be used for a food that contains at least 8 g of fiber rich in arabinoxylan (AX ) from wheat endosperm (at least 60% of AX in terms of weight) per 100 g of available carbohydrates  in a portion quantified as part of the meal , in the case of beta-glucans from barley and oats the effective dose is of 4 grams of beta-glucans per 30 g of available carbohydrate in a portion quantified as part of the meal.

The dose of pectin which is considered to be effective is of 10 grams in the context of a meal.

Where to find soluble fiber?

In addition to foods "designed ad hoc" for consumers who are sensitive to the problem of high blood sugar and containing the above mentioned nutrients, it is important to remember what foods are naturally rich in soluble fiber : in order of importance (Source INRAN ) there are boiled artichokes , pearl barley, locust bean, dried plums , rye flour , oatmeal and many other foods including , among the most used, beans and breakfast cereals for children.

There are also other nutrients such as resistant starch and fructose that boast claims related to blood glucose control, but considering the different use and mechanism of action, we'll discuss in the next article.

Sources:

http://www.ausl.pr.it/page.asp?IDCategoria=626&IDSezione=5899&ID=429149

"Diabete e corretti stili di vita"

EFSA Journal 2011

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindrome_metabolica

http://www.eufic.org/article/it/malattie-legate-alimentazione/diabete/artid/Il-cromo-nella-dieta/

Reppas C, Dressman JB., Viscosity modulates blood glucose response to nutrient solutions in dogs., Diabetes Res Clin Pract., Aug;17(2), 1992

www.inran.it

http://www.giornaledicardiologia.it/

Cristina Bianchi, Stefano Del Prato, Roberto Miccoli, "Iperglicemia e rischio cardiovascolare" - Il pensiero scientifico editore

Image Courtesy of Praisaeng/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

GOJI BERRIES: HEALTH BENEFITS AND SIDE EFFECTS

Goji berries are new to the western countries and constitute nowadays a real " nutritional mass phenomenon “.  Considering the high price of these berries and some controversial opinions on their properties, it is essential to define health benefits and side effects of Goji berries .

Goji berries , also known as wolfberry, are orange - red berries that grow wild in the valleys of Himalayas , Mongolia , Tibet and China.

Goji berries are cultivated for thousands of years and are considered a key factor in traditional Chinese medicine. While in Asia these berries are eaten raw, dried or cooked for generations as a kind of elixir of long life, even to treat disorders and symptoms such as fever , hypertension, diabetes and age-related health problems, their arrival in Europe is recent.

Nonetheless, Goji Berries immediately attracted the attention of the health products market and consumer, so that by typing into Google the term " goji berries”, pages and pages of advertising and articles about health benefits of these berries,  sometimes described as miraculous,  appear in search results.

Given the considerable price of these berries ,that we can  found in herbalist’s shops but not only , and the large amount of information, more or less reliable, provided  to the consumer,  we need to make some clarifications.

While several studies on antioxidant effects of various " red fruit " have been conducted , we can count on the fingers of one hand published studies specifically on goji berries.

Some studies , however, showed that fruits such as blueberries , acai berries, cranberries, cherries and strawberries are healthy by virtue of their content of antioxidants, molecules that reduce free radical damage to cells and to DNA and cellular aging.

Even Goji berries are particularly rich in antioxidants , especially carotenoids .

Some preliminary studies on the properties of Goji berries have reported benefits in terms of mood and quality of sleep , athletic performance , and sense of well-being, but they need further confirmation.

Goji Berries, because of their high content of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin , protect the retina by the ultraviolet radiation and oxidative stress harmful effects .

But they can do much more…  on the basis of a study of Kansas State University on animal model  Goji Berries can improve diabetes-related retinal structure abnormalities (diabetic retinopathy) .

In conclusion, undoubtedly Goji berries are a rich source of antioxidants, however, it is not yet clear whether their health benefits are related solely to their antioxidant content, as in the case of other " berries " , or if Goji Berries, as a complex food matrix,  have additional health properties.

Finally, it is useful to recall the side effects of goji berries : they may interact with certain medications or anticoagulants used for diabetes and for pressure control .

Therefore, as for other herbal products and supplements, in the case of therapies it is recommendable to seek  medical advice.

Sources:

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database: "Lycium (Goji): Monograph."

Natural Standard: "Professional Monograph: Goji (Lycium spp.)"

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goji

Ling Tang et al., "Dietary wolfberry ameliorates retinal structure abnormalities in db/db mice at the early stage of diabetes" - Abstract. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) September 2011 vol. 236 no. 9 1051-1063

Image Courtesy of  Praisaeng/Freedigitalphotos.net 

GASTRITIS AND VITAMIN C : WHAT IS ITS ROLE ?

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is well known for its antioxidant properties, but not only. Vitamin C deficiency was associated with various forms of gastritis and studies on the link between vitamin C and gastritis highlighted an important role of this vitamin in protection of gastric mucosa .

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is known for its many biological functions: ascorbic acid is important for the proper functioning of the immune system and essential for collagen synthesis.

It is also an important antioxidant, that can reduce various oxidizing agents and inhibit formation of nitrosamines (many of which are carcinogens) in the stomach and intestine.

Vitamin C also appears to play an important role in the onset of gastritis and in its treatment.

The link between vitamin C, gastritis and peptic ulcer is by no means a new "scientific discovery ", but rather an old knowledge overshadowed by more recent scientific evidences resulting from the discovery of Helicobacter pylori.

In fact it has been in fact widely studied in the first half of the last century but most of the scientific literature pertaining to it has been lost, replaced by new studies.

Vitamin C deficiency was associated with all forms of gastritis (e.g., autoimmune, chemical, infectious gastritis) and that would be due in part to insufficient intake, in part to increased metabolic demand and partly to destruction of vitamin C within the gastrointestinal tract.

A diet rich in naturally occurring vitamin C ( ascorbic acid)  can have protective effect against gastric corpus atrophy and gastric cancer.

How ? By reducing oxidative damage to the gastric mucosa by scavenging carcinogenic compounds and free radicals, but also by attenuating the inflammatory cascade induced by infectious agents such as Helicobacter pylori.

Furthermore, considering pharmacologic doses of vitamin C, they may improve the effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori-eradication therapy.

Given that vitamin C is a molecule with multiple properties, it is useful to remember, whether or not you suffer from gastritis, the richest food sources of vitamin C: guava, currants , peppers, kiwi , cauliflower and cruciferous vegetables , lettuce, strawberries , oranges, lemons , tomatoes , etc. . ) .

This is an example of how, even in the field of science, it is important the quote “Never forget the past…”.

Sources: 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22543844

Dig Dis Sci. 2012 Oct;57(10):2504-15. Epub 2012 Apr 28.

Vitamin C, gastritis, and gastric disease: a historical review and update.Abstract

Aditi A, Graham DY Departments of Medicine, Washington University School of 

Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA. 

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acido_ascorbico

Image Courtesy of Maggie Smith/FreeDigitalPhotos.net