Abstract
Objective: To determine the levels of vitamin C and tocopherol in Pakistani women diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Methodology: A total 60 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer were recruited in the study at the Department of Oncology, NORI Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan during the year 2016. Control group included 60 women with no disease or lesion of the cervix. Sociodemographic and obstetric information was obtained through detailed interview and medical records. Venous samples of both groups were obtained for Vitamin C and E levels, measured by dinitrophenylhydrazine method and dipyridyl method, respectively.
Results: Significant differences were found between study and control groups for age at marriage and parity. The mean of vitamin E levels of control and cancer groups was 13.5±1.56 and 3.02 ± 0.90 respectively while the mean of vitamin C levels of control and cancer groups was 1.74±0.39 and 0.19±0.09, respectively. Thus serum vitamin E and vitamin C levels were found to be significant between cervical cancer patients and controls (p<0.05).
Conclusions: There was significant difference of vitamin E and Vitamin C levels between cervical cancer and control groups. Low levels of vitamin E and vitamin C were found in cases of cervical cancer than in controls, thus antioxidant vitamins were found to have protective role in cervical cancer.
