A Population-Based Study of Serum Antioxidant Levels in Barrett's Oesophagus

• Published in: Endoscopy
• Main Authors: Murphy, SJ, Anderson, LA, Peter Watson, RG, Johnston, BT, Comber, H, McGuigan, J, Reynolds, JV, Murray, LJ
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: 18.12.2006
• ISSN: 0013-726X; 1438-8812
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-956866

Category: Upper Gastrointestinal Aims: Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of Barrett's oesophagus, and previous studies have shown that vitamin C levels are lower in subjects with Barrett's oesophagus compared to controls. However, studies so far have examined small numbers of subjects and were not population-based. Methods: Assessment of serum antioxidant levels in a population-based case-control study of Barrett's oesophagus (the FINBAR study). Frozen serum samples from 173 subjects with Barrett's oesophagus and 178 normal controls were analysed. Levels of the following 10 antioxidants were measured using automated fluorimetric analysis: alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, retinol, vitamin C, alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin and lycopene. Data were log transformed and geometric means calculated. Serum levels were also categorised into tertiles according to the levels found in normal controls using logistic regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounding factors. Results: Mean serum levels of vitamin C, alpha-tocopherol and beta-cryptoxanthin were all significantly lower in subjects with Barrett's oesophagus compared to controls (p values 0.048, 0.024, and 0.012, respectively). No significant differences in mean levels were noted for the remaining antioxidants and there were no significant differences in tertiles of serum levels for any antioxidants. Conclusions: Low serum levels of certain antioxidants may be important in Barrett's oesophagus.