Dietary consumption of antioxidant nutrients and risk of incident cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Abstract

Objective Women with human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are at risk for developing squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) of the cervix; however, other factors are required for infections to progress to SIL. We hypothesize that consumption of fruits and vegetables high in antioxidant nutrients may prevent, in part, the development of HPV-associated SIL. Methods This study is a nested case-control study of 265 HPV-positive women (93 SIL cases and 172 cytologically normal controls) in the Ludwig–McGill Cohort Study, São Paulo, Brazil. Diet was assessed by a self-administered food frequency questionnaire. The association between food and nutrient intake of antioxidants and incident SIL was determined by logistic regression and multinomial regression when comparing LSIL and HSILs. Results Higher reported consumption of papaya was inversely associated with risk of SIL ( p trend = 0.01) and strongest for ≥ 1 time/week (adjusted odds ratios (AORs) = 0.19; 95%CI, 0.08–0.49). Risk of SIL was reduced among women reporting consumption of oranges ≥ 1 time/week (AOR = 0.32; 95%CI, 0.12–0.87; p-trend = 0.02). Nutrient intakes of ß-cryptoxanthin and α-carotene were marginally protective against SIL. Conclusions Frequent consumption of fruits high in antioxidant nutrients appears to be associated with reduced risk of incident SIL among Brazilian women.