The risk of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in women with low serum levels of vitamin A.

BACKGROUND

The progression of the cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) is associated with many cofactors, and nutritional aspects are gradually assuming an important role in understanding the physiopathogenesis.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the serum levels of retinol in women from a poor region of Brazil with a histological diagnosis of cervical high-grade SIL (HSIL).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 62 women aged 14-48 years who had a cervical biopsy and were treated at the Federal University of Ceara in Fortaleza, Brazil. Serum retinol levels were measured in peripheral blood by a spectrophotometry technique. Values were categorized as subnormal (<20 µg/dl) or normal (≥20 µg/dl). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association between serum levels of retinol and HSIL for a confidence interval of 95%.

RESULTS

Twenty-six out of 62 women (42%) had a negative histopathological result for SIL and 36 (58%) were diagnosed with SIL (20 low SIL and 16 high SIL). The level of retinol was more frequently low in women with HSIL, but there was no statistical significance [p = 0.409, OR: 2.26 (0.33-15.59)].

CONCLUSION

There was no association between high SIL and low levels of retinol in peripheral blood.