[Serum values of vitamins A, E, C and carotenoids in healthy adult subjects and those with breast neoplasia].

Serum values of retinol, carotenoids, tocopherol and ascorbic acid were assayed in healthy adult females (Group A: 20 cases) and in subjects with fibrocistic mastopathy (Group B: 20 cases), benign breast neoplasms, as fibroadenomas and intraductal papillomas (Group C: 18 cases), and breast carcinoma in situ (Group D: 36 cases). Retinol and carotenoids were evaluated by spectrophotometry using trifluoroacetic acid. Tocopherol was determined by a colorimetric method involving the reduction of Fe to Fe++ by tocopherol with the formation of a red complex of the Fe++ with alpha, alpha'-dipirydyl. Ascorbic acid was estimated by a colorimetric method after derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Our results point out that there is a highly significant decrease (p less than 0.001) of average retinol serum levels in all three patient groups as compared with group A, whereas carotenoids resulted decreased but not significantly. Tocopherol was found to be significantly lower only in groups B (p less than 0.05) and D (p less than 0.01), ascorbic acid in groups B (p less than 0.01) C (p less than 0.05) and D (p less than 0.001).