Skip to main content
PMC home page
Environmental Health Perspectives logoLink to Environmental Health Perspectives
. 1977 Oct;20:39–54. doi: 10.1289/ehp.772039

Environmental factors and the development of disease and injury in the alimentary tract.

H P Schedl
PMCID: PMC1637346  PMID: 598351

Abstract

This review examines interactions between the alimentary tract and environmental agents. In these intera"ctions the alimentary tract is considered as an integrated organ system extending from mouth to anus. The alimentary tract shares with the skin and its appendages and the respiratory system the distinction of being a portal of entry into the human body for environmental agents as well as a target for their action. Food and water-borne environmental agents enter the body via the alimentary tract. By injurying the alimentary tract environmental agents after their portal of entry and thereby modulate their effects on the organism. Such modulation may enhance or depress effects of these agents. Interactions between environmental factors and the alimentary tract depend on (1) factors related to the alimentary tract that are determined by anatomic, physiologic, and biochemical considerations; (2) factors related to the environmental agents; and (3) individually determined factors. The role of these factors in development of disease and injury is considered. Environmental diseases of the alimentary tract and environmental agents acting on the gut are discussed and recommendations are made for future research.

Full text

PDF
39

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bachur N. R. Cytoplasmic aldo-keto reductases: a class of drug metabolizing enzymes. Science. 1976 Aug 13;193(4253):595–597. doi: 10.1126/science.959821. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cameron A. J. Aspirin and gastric ulcer. Mayo Clin Proc. 1975 Oct;50(10):565–570. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Duggan D. E., Hooke K. F., Noll R. M., Kwan K. C. Enterohepatic circulation of indomethacin and its role in intestinal irritation. Biochem Pharmacol. 1975 Oct 1;24(19):1749–1754. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(75)90450-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Ershoff B. H. Protective effects of cholestyramine in rats fed a low-fiber diet containing toxic doses of sodium cyclamate or amaranth. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1976 Jun;152(2):253–256. doi: 10.3181/00379727-152-39373. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Goldman P., Peppercorn M. A., Goldin B. R. Metabolism of drugs by microorganisms in the intestine. Am J Clin Nutr. 1974 Nov;27(11):1348–1355. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/27.11.1348. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hartiala K. Metabolism of hormones, drugs and other substances by the gut. Physiol Rev. 1973 Apr;53(2):496–534. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1973.53.2.496. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Heidelberger C. Chemical carcinogenesis. Annu Rev Biochem. 1975;44:79–121. doi: 10.1146/annurev.bi.44.070175.000455. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hietanen E., Laitinen M., Vainio H., Hänninen O. Dietary fats and properties of endoplasmic reticulum: II. Dietary lipid induced changes in activities of drug metabolizing enzymes in liver and duodenum of rat. Lipids. 1975 Aug;10(8):467–472. doi: 10.1007/BF02532430. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hoensch H., Woo C. H., Raffin S. B., Schmid R. Oxidative metabolism of foreign compounds in rat small intestine: cellular localization and dependence on dietary iron. Gastroenterology. 1976 Jun;70(6):1063–1070. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Hopp M. L., Matsumoto M., Wendell B., Lee C., Oyasu R. Suppressive role of indole on 2-acetylaminofluorene hepatotoxicity. Cancer Res. 1976 Jan;36(1):234–239. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Issenberg P. Nitrite, nitrosamines, and cancer. Fed Proc. 1976 May 1;35(6):1322–1326. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Ivie G. W. Epoxide to olefin: a novel biotransformation in the rumen. Science. 1976 Mar 5;191(4230):959–961. doi: 10.1126/science.1251209. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Kappas A., Anderson K. E., Conney A. H., Alvares A. P. Influence of dietary protein and carbohydrate on antipyrine and theophylline metabolism in man. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1976 Dec;20(6):643–653. doi: 10.1002/cpt1976206643. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Leichter J., Tolensky A. F. Effect of dietary lactose on the absorption of protein, fat and calcium in the postweaning rat. Am J Clin Nutr. 1975 Mar;28(3):238–241. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/28.3.238. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Marselos M., Dutton G., Hänninen O. Evidence that D-glucaro-1,4-lactone shortens the pharmacological action of drugs being disposed via the bile as glucuronides. Biochem Pharmacol. 1975 Oct 15;24(20):1855–1858. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(75)90403-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Miller J. A., Miller E. C. Carcinogens occurring naturally in foods. Fed Proc. 1976 May 1;35(6):1316–1321. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Newberne P. M. Influence of pharmacological experiments of chemicals and other factors in diets of laboratory animals. Fed Proc. 1975 Feb;34(2):209–218. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Pantuck E. J., Hsiao K. C., Conney A. H., Garland W. A., Kappas A., Anderson K. E., Alvares A. P. Effect of charcoal-broiled beef on phenacetin metabolism in man. Science. 1976 Dec 3;194(4269):1055–1057. doi: 10.1126/science.982059. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Pantuck E. J., Hsiao K. C., Kuntzman R., Conney A. H. Intestinal metabolism of phenacetin in the rat: effect of charcoal-broiled beef and rat chow. Science. 1975 Feb 28;187(4178):744–746. doi: 10.1126/science.1114320. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Pantuck E. J., Hsiao K. C., Loub W. D., Wattenberg L. W., Kuntzman R., Conney A. H. Stimulatory effect of vegetables on intestinal drug metabolism in the rat. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1976 Aug;198(2):278–283. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Pontefract R. D., Cunningham H. M. Letter: Penetration of asbestos through the digestive tract of rats. Nature. 1973 Jun 8;243(5406):352–353. doi: 10.1038/243352a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. ROUST C., VELAZQUEZ P. P. NUESTRA EXPERIENCIA SOBRE LA INFECCI'ON URINARIA EN LA GR'AVIDA. Sem Med. 1963 Jun 3;122:1277–1278. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Reinhold J. G., Faradji B., Abadi P., Ismail-Beigi F. Decreased absorption of calcium, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus by humans due to increased fiber and phosphorus consumption as wheat bread. J Nutr. 1976 Apr;106(4):493–503. doi: 10.1093/jn/106.4.493. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Schedl H. P. Water and electrolyte transport; clinical aspects. Med Clin North Am. 1974 Nov;58(6):1429–1448. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)32082-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Serfontein W. J., de Villiers L. S. Drug induced biogenesis of nitrosamines. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1975 Nov;12(3):605–608. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Shapley D. Nitrosamines: scientists on the trail of prime suspect in urban cancer. Science. 1976 Jan 23;191(4224):268–270. doi: 10.1126/science.191.4224.268. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Sporn M. B., Dunlop N. M., Newton D. L., Smith J. M. Prevention of chemical carcinogenesis by vitamin A and its synthetic analogs (retinoids). Fed Proc. 1976 May 1;35(6):1332–1338. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Sugawara D., Sugawara N. The inductive effect of cadmium on protein synthesis of rat intestine. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 1975 Aug;14(2):159–162. doi: 10.1007/BF01701307. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Trowell H. Definition of dietary fiber and hypotheses that it is a protective factor in certain diseases. Am J Clin Nutr. 1976 Apr;29(4):417–427. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/29.4.417. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Tuyns A. J., Massé G. Cancer of the oesophagus in Brittany: an incidence study in Ille-et-Vilaine. Int J Epidemiol. 1975 Mar;4(1):55–59. doi: 10.1093/ije/4.1.55. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Vesell E. S. Pharmacogenetics--the individual factor in drug response. Triangle. 1975;14(3-4):125–130. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Volkheimer G., Schulz F. H. The phenomenon of persorption. Digestion. 1968;1(4):213–218. doi: 10.1159/000196856. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Wattenberg L. W., Loub W. D., Lam L. K., Speier J. L. Dietary constituents altering the responses to chemical carcinogens. Fed Proc. 1976 May 1;35(6):1327–1331. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Wheeler L. A., Soderberg F. B., Goldman P. The reduction of N-hydroxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl by the intestinal microflora of the rat. Cancer Res. 1975 Nov;35(11 Pt 1):2962–2968. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Wynder E. L. Nutrition and cancer. Fed Proc. 1976 May 1;35(6):1309–1315. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Wynder E. L., Reddy B. S. The epidemiology of cancer of the large bowel. Am J Dig Dis. 1974 Oct;19(10):937–946. doi: 10.1007/BF01076220. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Environmental Health Perspectives are provided here courtesy of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

RESOURCES