Positive Health Online

Abstract

NAGATA and colleagues, Department of Public Health, Gifu University, School of Medicine, Japan studied the relationship of dietary and serum vitamin A to subsequent cervical cancer .

Background

Methodology

The authors followed up on 134 women diagnosed with cervical dysplasia, who were attending for Pap screening in Miyagi, Japan between October 1987 and September 1988. The authors conducted personal interviews and took blood samples on the date of diagnosis of cervical dysplasia. The women were followed up with cervical smear and colposcopy at about 3-monthly intervals until end of February 1995. During the follow-up, 8 women (5.9%) developed cancer in situ or invasive cervical cancer, and 106 (79.1%) reverted to normal.

Results

The rate of progression of the cancer in situ or invasive cervical cancer was 4.5 times higher in women with lower serum retinol levels than those with higher serum retinol levels .

Conclusion

These results suggest an association of low serum retinol level with development of cervical cancer .

References

Nagata C et al. Serum retinol level and risk of subsequent cervical cancer in cases with cervical dysplasia. Cancer Investigation 17(4): 253-8. 1999.