A group of scientists have observed an increase in the number of stomach cancer cases among young white adults. Although young adults in general have relatively low chances of developing stomach cancer, the incidence among young white adults around 25 to 39 years old have increased around 70% during the past three decades.

Several researchers and experts from the National Cancer Institute went through a study of the reported cases of lower stomach cancer between the periods of 1977 and 2006. Several cases of this cancer are most probably caused by a chronic infection with the same bacteria known to cause stomach ulcers, H. pylori.

The study conducted by the researchers was mainly focused on the incidents reporting lower stomach cancers, which might be linked to cases of gastric reflux.

On the whole, the researchers found 39,003 reported cases of stomach cancers. The information was gathered through a surveillance program that covered around 25% of the entire US population.

More than 700 out of the total number of cases reported were white young adults. However, the scientists found that the incidence rate of stomach cancers in young white adults increased from .54/200,000 to around 1/200,000.

On the contrary, the cases of stomach cancers involving older people and other races noticeably decreased.