Effects of long-term folate supplementation on metabolic status and regression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 681 - 686
• Main Authors: Asemi, Zatollah, Ph.D, Vahedpoor, Zahra, M.D, Jamilian, Mehri, M.D, Bahmani, Fereshteh, Ph.D, Esmaillzadeh, Ahmad, Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2016; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers; Biopsy; Blood Glucose; C-Reactive Protein; Cancer; Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia - drug therapy; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia - metabolism; Cholesterol; Clinical trials; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Fasting; Female; Folate supplementation; Folic Acid - pharmacology; Follow-Up Studies; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Histology; Homeostasis; Homocysteine; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Lipids; Low density lipoprotein; Metabolic profiles; Metabolism; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Regression; Rodents; Studies; Time; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - drug therapy; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - metabolism; Vitamin B; Vitamin B Complex - pharmacology; Vitamin deficiency; Iran; Regression; Metabolic profiles; Folate supplementation; Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2015.12.028

Abstract Objective This study was conducted to determine the effects of long-term folate supplementation on regression and metabolic status of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN1). Methods This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed among 58 women diagnosed with CIN1, ages 18 to 55 y old. Participants were randomly divided into two groups to receive 5 mg/d folate supplements (n = 29) or placebo (n = 29) for 6 mo. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and 6 mo after intervention to quantify related markers. Results A greater percentage of women in the folate group had regressed CIN1 (83.3 versus 52.0%, P  = 0.019) than those in the placebo group. Long-term folate supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in serum insulin levels (−1.6 ± 6.2 versus +2.6 ± 6.9 μIU/mL, P  = 0.018) and homeostatic model assessment-beta cell function (HOMA-B) (−13.0 ± 39.0 versus +11.2 ± 42.3, P  = 0.028) compared with the placebo. Additionally, plasma glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly increased (+81.5 ± 264.1 versus −220.9 ± 342.5 μmol/L, P  < 0.001) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly reduced (−1.0 ± 1.1 versus +0.1 ± 1.6 μmol/L, P  = 0.004) in the folate group compared to the placebo. Conclusions Taken together, folate supplementation (5 mg/d) for 6 mo among women with CIN1 resulted in its regression as well as led to decreased serum insulin, HOMA-B, plasma MDA and increased plasma GSH levels; however, it did not affect other metabolic profiles.