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Clinical nutrition

Effects of folate supplementation on recurrence and metabolic status of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 in overweight and obese women: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 76, pages 666–670 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background and Objective

Inconsistent evidence showed that folate supplementation may be associated with reduced risk of cancer due to improved metabolic profiles and reduced markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. The aim of this investigation was to quantify the effects of folate supplementation on the recurrence and other metabolic factors of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 (CIN2/3).

Methods

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed among 60 overweight/obese women with CIN2/3. Definitive CIN2/3 confirmation was done via biopsy, pathological diagnosis, as well as colposcopy. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group to take 5 mg/day folate supplements or placebo group (n = 30 in each group) for 12 weeks.

Results

The results of the current study showed a non-significant decrease in recurrence of CIN2/3 in the folate group in comparison with the placebo group (3.3% vs. 16.7%, P = 0.08). Compared with the placebo, folate supplementation significantly decreased plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels (P < 0.001), serum insulin values (in the crude model) (P = 0.01), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (P = 0.01). Also, folate supplementation resulted in a significant improvement in the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (P = 0.002) and total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.04) and a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0.015) in comparison with the placebo group.

Conclusions

In conclusion, folate supplementation for 12 weeks among overweight/obese women with CIN2/3 showed a non-significant decrease in its recurrence and had beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and oxidative stress markers.

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Acknowledgements

The present study was supported by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran (No. 395733). The sponsor had no role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Sima Sabihi, Sahar Saraf-Bank & Mojgan Nourian

  2. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Sima Sabihi, Sahar Saraf-Bank & Mojgan Nourian

  3. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR, Iran

    Zahra Vahedpoor

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Contributions

SS was involved in conceptualization, methodology, software, validation, formal analysis, data curation, writing the original draft. ZV was responsible for performing investigation, and data curation. SSB was contributed in writing the original draft of the paper, review & editing the final manuscript. MN was responsible for conceptualization, methodology, writing the original draft, review & editing the final manuscript, supervision.

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Correspondence to Mojgan Nourian.

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Sabihi, S., Vahedpoor, Z., Saraf-Bank, S. et al. Effects of folate supplementation on recurrence and metabolic status of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 in overweight and obese women: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 76, 666–670 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-021-01022-0

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