title: The risk of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in women with low serum levels of vitamin A.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The progression of the cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) is associated with many cofactors, and nutritional aspects are gradually assuming an important role in understanding the physiopathogenesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the serum levels of retinol in women from a poor region of Brazil with a histological diagnosis of cervical high-grade SIL (HSIL).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in 62 women aged 14-48 years who had a cervical biopsy and were treated at the Federal University of Ceara in Fortaleza, Brazil. Serum retinol levels were measured in peripheral blood by a spectrophotometry technique. Values were categorized as subnormal (<20 µg/dl) or normal (≥20 µg/dl). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association between serum levels of retinol and HSIL for a confidence interval of 95%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six out of 62 women (42%) had a negative histopathological result for SIL and 36 (58%) were diagnosed with SIL (20 low SIL and 16 high SIL). The level of retinol was more frequently low in women with HSIL, but there was no statistical significance [p = 0.409, OR: 2.26 (0.33-15.59)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no association between high SIL and low levels of retinol in peripheral blood.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eleutério
authors.forename: Paulo César
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Giraldo
authors.forename: Ana Katherine
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Renata Mirian Nunes
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Eleutério
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia Carvalho
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Diane Isabelle Magno
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001938:Brazil; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D003127:Colposcopy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D065310:Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions of the Cervix / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A