Serum Carotenoids and Malignant Gastrointestinal Diseases in Patients

Abstract

The serum levels of carotenoids (vitamin A, lutein, zeaxanthin, α- and β-cryptoxanthin, α- and β- carotene) were measured in healthy people and in patients with different malignant gastrointestinal diseases (21 colon, 13 stomach, 8 pancreas adenocarcinoma, 10 hepatocellular carcinoma). The serum levels of carotenoids were measured with high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The sera of the patients were taken at the time of the diagnosis.

Results: The measurements indicated that:

• 1. The serum levels of vitamin A and zeaxanthin were significantly lower in all these groups but the extent of the decrease was different in patients with different types of gastrointestinal malignancy. The serum level of vitamin A in healthy subjects (n = 16) was 2.07 ± 0.209 µmol/L and in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies (n = 52) was 0.77 ± 0.078 µmol/L. The serum level of zeaxanthin in healthy subjects was 0.1435±0.066 µcool/L and in those with malignancies was 0.042±0.009 µmol/L.

• 2. There were no significant differences in the serum levels of other carotenoids in the examined group.

• 3. The serum levels of cholesterol, total protein, albumin and haemoglobin were in the normal range in these patients.

These results indicate that: (1) the carotenoids may be responsible nutritional factors in the development of different malignant diseases; and (2) this supposed role in carcinogenesis does not depend fully on vitamin A activity.