A modelling study used a quantitative systems pharmacology framework to examine whether dietary patterns and drinking water quality impact gastric nitrosation, a known pathway for generating carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds (NOCs) from ingested nitrate and nitrite. The researchers found that individuals adhering to a standard Western diet paired with high-nitrate drinking water faced the greatest risk of gastric NOC formation. Conversely, shifting toward a Mediterranean diet or incorporating vitamin C supplementation significantly lowered gastric nitrite concentrations and NOC levels. The findings suggest that vitamin C may reduce cancer-linked digestive chemical reactions.

References

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