Nutritional status of patients with untreated cervical cancer. II. Vitamin assessment.

Prospective vitamin assessment was undertaken in 78 patients with untreated cancer of the uterine cervix. At least one abnormal vitamin level was present in 67% of patients while individual levels were abnormal in as many as 38% of patients. Significantly lowered levels of plasma folate, vitamin A, and vitamin C were present. Although most of these vitamins did not correlate with other parameters of protein-calorie malnutrition, the possible preventative and treatment effects of these vitamins require additional investigation.