Blood iron, glutathione, and micronutrient levels and the risk of oral cancer.
The risk of oral cavity cancer was determined in relation to serological levels of iron; vitamins A, B2, C, E; zinc; thiamin; and glutathione (GSH). The study included 65 hospitalized patients with oral cancer and 85 matched controls. In comparing the highest to the lowest tertiles, the risk was odds ratio (OR) = 0.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.1-0.6] for iron; 3.2 (95% CI = 1.3-8.1) for total iron binding capacity (TIBC), which measures the concentration of the iron delivery protein transferrin; and 0.4 (95% CI = 0.2-0.9) for transferrin saturation (iron/TIBC x 100). These associations were stronger in never smokers than in ever smokers. The risk associated with the iron storage protein ferritin was significantly elevated, but this association could reflect disease-related inflammation or comorbidity. The OR for GSH was 0.4 (95% CI = 0.1-0.9), and the OR for GSH reductase activity coefficient (indicative of riboflavin deficiency) was 1.6 (95% CI = 1.3-3.7). These findings suggest that mild iron deficiency and low GSH levels, which are associated with increased oxidative stress, increase the risk of oral cavity cancer.
Richie
John P
JP
Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA. jrichie@psu.edu
Kleinman
Wayne
W
Marina
Patricia
P
Abraham
Patricia
P
Wynder
Ernst L
EL
Muscat
Joshua E
JE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
D018977:Micronutrients; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron; D005978:Glutathione