A new study from the University of Waterloo uses mathematical modelling to examine how Vitamin C affects chemical reactions in the digestive system that are linked to cancer development.
Over the last several decades, North American diets have seen a steady increase in exposure to nitrates and nitrites: compounds found in cured meats as well as fruits and vegetables grown using polluted soil and water. While nitrates and nitrites play important roles in neurological and heart health, in the stomach, they can undergo a chemical reaction known as “nitrosation” and form chemicals that many scientists suspect increase cancer risk.
“Since at least the 90s, researchers have been studying the link between cancer and these compounds, with conflicting results,” said Dr. Gordon McNicol, a post-doctoral researcher in applied mathematics and the first author of the study. “Our work suggests that the presence of dietary Vitamin C may help explain these inconsistencies.”
Read the full story from Waterloo News to learn more.