Correlations of values of micronutrients in sera with gastric pathology.

Sera were collected in a high-risk area for stomach cancer in Colombia from 857 residents who had been gastroscoped. The levels of 6 micronutrients (retinol, beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, prealbumin, retinol-binding protein) were measured and the mean values correlated with the presence of gastric pathology thought to represent precursors of stomach cancer. Two micronutrients showed important variations in mean levels by gastric pathology: beta-carotene and vitamin E. Beta-carotene levels were low in patients with dysplasia, but no differences were detected for retinol levels.