Oral folic acid supplementation for cervical dysplasia: a clinical intervention trial.
OBJECTIVE
We attempted to evaluate the effect of oral folic acid supplementation on the course of cervical dysplasia.


METHODS
A total of 235 subjects with grade 1 or 2 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were randomly assigned to receive either 10 mg of folic acid or a placebo daily for 6 months. Clinical status, human papillomavirus type 16 infection, and blood folate levels were monitored at 2-month intervals. Outcome data were subjected to chi 2 analysis.


RESULTS
The prevalence of human papillomavirus type 16 infection initially was 16% among subjects in the upper tertile of red blood cell folate versus 37% in the lower tertile (trend p = 0.035). After 6 months no significant differences were observed between supplemented and unsupplemented subjects regarding dysplasia status, biopsy results, or prevalence of human papillomavirus type 16 infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Folate deficiency may be involved as a cocarcinogen during the initiation of cervical dysplasia, but folic acid supplements do not alter the course of established disease.
Butterworth
C E
CE
Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294-3360.
Hatch
K D
KD
Soong
S J
SJ
Cole
P
P
Tamura
T
T
Sauberlich
H E
HE
Borst
M
M
Macaluso
M
M
Baker
V
V
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014626:Vaginal Smears
D005492:Folic Acid