The mutagenic activity of gastric juice.

The mutagenic activity of fasting gastric juice was assessed in 123 patients including 18 with normal endoscopic findings, 53 peptic ulceration, 9 gastric cancer, 12 pernicious anaemia and 31 patients who had undergone peptic ulcer surgery in the past. Significant mutagenic activity was detected in 96 (78%). Marked variations in mutagenic activity were noted both within and between the patient groups and no significant differences were detected. No correlation was found between mutagenic activity and patient age or sex, gastric pH, bile acid concentrations or bacterial counts, intestinal metaplasia on gastric mucosal biopsy, or intragastric nitrite. About 30% of gastric juice samples showed evidence of a cytotoxic activity towards the Salmonella tester strains in the mutation assay. Preliminary studies on other body fluids showed the presence of significant mutagenic activity in fasting saliva, bile and plasma. These findings demonstrate widespread human exposure to potentially genotoxic substances.