Folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine status. findings of no relation between human papillomavirus persistence and cervical dysplasia.
OBJECTIVE
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are the cause of most, if not all, cervical cancers. Women consistently positive for oncogenic type HPV infections have a greater risk of developing cervical dysplasia compared with women transiently infected. HPV infection alone appears to be insufficient to produce disease, suggesting that other cofactors may be needed. Folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine, through their role in DNA methylation, may be involved in cervical neoplasia.


METHODS
This study examined the associations between HPV persistence and circulating folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine levels among 91 low-income Hispanic women. Further, the relation of these nutrients to cervical pathology was evaluated. HPV status was determined at two visits approximately 3 mo apart.


RESULTS
Adjusted mean circulating concentrations of folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine were not statistically different between women with two positive HPV tests, one positive test, or two negative HPV tests. No association was observed between tertiles of folate, vitamin B12, or homocysteine and HPV persistence risk. Further, adjusted mean levels of these nutrients were not statistically different between cytologic grades.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this small study did not support a role for folate, vitamin B12, or homocysteine in HPV persistence or cervical dysplasia.
Sedjo
Rebecca L
RL
Arizona Cancer Center, 1515 N. Campbell Avenue, Room 4977 C, Phoenix, AZ 85724-5024, USA.
Fowler
Brenda M
BM
Schneider
Achim
A
Henning
Susanne M
SM
Hatch
Kenneth
K
Giuliano
Anna R
AR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12