[The effect of beta-carotene on the dynamics of ornithine decarboxylase activity in atrophic mucous membranes and in stomach polyp tissue].

Activity of ornithine decarboxylase was significantly increased, reaching the maximal values in malignant gastric tissues, in mucosal membrane and polypous tissue of patients with atrophic gastritis as compared with normalcy. Any alterations in the enzymatic activity were not observed in the gastric mucosal membrane of 19 patients with atrophic gastritis within 3 weeks. At the same time, statistically significant decrease of the abnormal high activity of ornithine decarboxylase was detected in atrophic gastric mucosal membrane of 12 patients among 20 patients examined, which were treated with 20 mg of beta-carotene daily within 3 weeks; the enzyme activity was decreased also in polypous tissue of 5 patients in the group of 9 patients studied. Decrease in the ornithine decarboxylase activity after beta-carotene treatment involved improvement of the mucosal membrane state, where hemorrhage disappeared and inflammation reduced. Since the high activity of ornithine decarboxylase is related to promotion of cancerogenesis, beta-carotene appears to exhibit an anticarcinogenic effect as it decreases the enzymatic activity in gastric mucosal membrane.