Gastric juice ascorbic acid, total vitamin C, nitrite and N-nitrosocompound concentrations were determined in fasting gastric juice from four second generation members of a gastric cancer family, all of whom had Helicabacter pylori-associated chronic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. Juice pH, nitrite and N-nitrosocompound concentrations were low. Juice ascorbate levels were comparable to those found in subjects with normal histology. The findings are contrary to our previous experience with juice ascorbate in H. pylori gastritis.