Role of nitrosamides in the high risk for gastric cancer in China.

Abstract

Gastric cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in China. Samples of fish sauce, a traditional seasoning, were collected in the high-risk area for gastric cancer in the Fuzhou area, Fujian Province. When fish sauce samples were nitrosated at pH 2.0, direct mutagenicity and high contents of N-nitrosamide were detected (30.9-78.0 microM); the N-nitrosamide content of three samples of fish sauce made in Guangdong and purchased from a market outside Fujian were low (2.1-6.0 microns). When the nitrosated fish sauce extract was given to newborn rats by gavage, dysplasia and adenocarcinoma were induced in the glandular stomach in the 4th and 16th experimental week, respectively. N-Nitrosamides were also found in fasting gastric juice from patients with chronic gastritis in the high-risk area of Putian. The mean concentration of total N-nitrosamides in the extracts correlated with the severity of gastritis in the stomach. These findings indicate that N-nitrosamides may play an important role in causing gastric cancer in China.

• Authors: R F Zhang, D J Deng, Y Chen, H Y Wu, C S Chen
• Journal: IARC scientific publications (IARC Sci Publ) Issue 105 Pg. 152-7 ( 1991) ISSN: 0300-5038 [Print] France
• PMID: 1855840 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Nitroso Compounds
• nitrosamides

Topics

• Animals
• China
• Fish Products (adverse effects, analysis)
• Gastric Juice (chemistry)
• Humans
• Nitroso Compounds (analysis, toxicity)
• Risk
• Stomach Neoplasms (chemically induced)