Plasma vitamin C and uterine cervical dysplasia.
Plasma concentrations of vitamin C were determined in a case-control study of women (n = 80) who had sought a Papanicolaou test in the Bronx Municipal Hospital Center. Controls (n = 34) were women having negative cytologic tests, negative colposcopic findings, and no known gynecologic dysfunction. Cases (n = 46) were defined as women who had either one positive or two consecutive suspicious Papanicolaou smears in a 12-month period. The mean concentration of vitamin C in the plasma was significantly lower in the cases than in the controls (0.36 versus 0.75 mg/dl, p less than 0.0001). Cases were further stratified according to the histopathologic diagnosis. The data direct attention to a possible etiologic association of vitamin C in human cervical epithelial abnormalities. A clinical trial with vitamin C intervention is suggested.
D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
D001205:Ascorbic Acid