Vitamin B may play a preventive role in esophageal precancerous lesions: a case-control study based on markers in blood and 3-day duplicate diet samples.

PURPOSE

It is hypothesized that vitamin B may prevent tumor initiation during the early stage of carcinogenesis such as esophageal precancerous lesions (EPL), whereas an excessive level may promote tumor progression during the later stages of carcinogenesis. This study aimed to determine the role of vitamin B in EPL by detecting vitamin B-related markers in both blood and diet.

METHODS

This case-control study based on 3-day duplicated diet samples was conducted in a high-risk area of Huai'an, China. A 100 EPL cases and 100 healthy controls matched by gender, age (± 2 years) and villages were included. Dietary intake of vitamin B and cobalt, plasma cobalt level, the serum levels of vitamin B and transcobalamin II (TC II) were quantitatively analyzed.

RESULTS

Dietary vitamin B intake (p for trend = 0.384) and plasma cobalt level (p for trend = 0.253) were not associated with EPL risk, but high dietary cobalt intake (p for trend = 0.034), increased serum levels of vitamin B (p for trend = 0.036) and TC II (p for trend < 0.001) were significantly associated with the reduced EPL risk. However, the significant negative association between dietary cobalt intake, plasma cobalt level or serum vitamin B level and EPL was only found in female or male subjects.

CONCLUSION

Excellent transport capability of bio-active vitamin B in vivo and adequate levels of vitamin B and cobalt may play preventive roles in EPL. Additionally, the association between vitamin B, cobalt and the risk of EPL may vary in different genders.