The work of the Waterloo team is a simulation, not a clinical trial
LIGA.net news editor, “Life” section
Illustrative photo: Magnific
Bacon and spinach contain the same compounds, nitrates and nitrites, which have been linked to the risk of stomach cancer since the 1990s. A mathematical Canadian model has shown that the decisive factor may not be nitrate itself, but the substances that accompany it in the digestive process. About writes Earth.com.
A team led by Dr. Gordon McNichol of the University of Waterloo has developed a computer model of the digestive tract that tracks the movement of nitrates and nitrites in different parts of the body (salivary glands, stomach, small intestine, and bloodstream), taking into account meal times, stomach acidity, oral bacteria, and vitamin C intake.
The model is not a substitute for clinical trials, but it allows us to filter out individual variables and analyze their effects separately. It also showed that vitamin C from greens can affect the reactions of nitrates in the digestive tract if it enters the stomach at the same time as them. In this case, the vitamin can block the formation of potentially dangerous compounds at an early stage.
The situation is different with processed meat. Bacon or sausage products contain nitrates and nitrites without enough vitamin C, which, according to the model, allows them to interact with proteins and form N-nitroso compounds. This shows that the same compounds can behave differently depending on the product.
Scientists also found out what would happen if a person took a vitamin C supplement after eating a meal with a large amount of nitrates, such as bacon and eggs or a sausage sandwich. The results showed a moderate reduction in the amount of dangerous compounds that were formed later in the digestive process. The effect was weaker than when vitamin C is initially contained in the food itself, but still noticeable.
The work of the Waterloo team is a simulation, not a clinical trial. Anita Leighton, professor of applied mathematics and Dr. Anita Leighton, noted that the next phase of human research now has clearer questions.
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