Serum and Tissue Levels of Vitamin a and E in Gastric and Esophageal Cancer

Abstract

Vitamin A and Vitamin E have antioxidant properties and their role in the prevention of gastrointestinal cancers by way of scavenging lipid peroxidation products is very important. Vitamin A ester (retinol acetate) and vitamin E isomers (alpha, gamma and total tocopherols) have been investigated in the serum samples and tissue biopsies of 7 esophageal, 12 gastric cancer patients and a control group consisting of 12 healthy subjects. The serum mean retinol acetate level was significantly higher in the gastric cancer group but not in patients with esophageal cancer when compared to the control group. Serum mean tocopherol levels were low in both cancer groups when compared to the control group but this did not reach biological significance. Tissue mean retinol acetate and tocopherol levels were found significantly low in both of the cancer groups (p<0.03 and p<0.08). These findings suggest that the low tissue levels of the antioxidant vitamin A and E may be related to the etiopathogenesis of the gastrointestinal cancers.