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Folate deficiency is associated with Cervical
Intraepithelial Neoplasia: perspective for prevention
Martina Barchitta
M Barchitta
1
, A Quattrocchi
1
, A Maugeri
1
, N La Rosa
2
, A Scalisi
2
,
A Agodi
1
1
Department ‘‘GF Ingrassia’’, University of Catania, Italy
2
UO di Screening Ginecologico, ASP Catania, Italy
Contact: martina.barchitta@unict.it
Background
A healthy diet, providing high folate levels, may reduce the risk
of HPV infection and Cervical cancer (CC). The aim of the
present study was to assess the effect of diet and of folate intake
on HPV infection and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia
(CIN).
Methods
A total of 650 women were enrolled in a cross-sectional study
and classified by histological diagnosis as cases (CIN1+) and
8th European Public Health Conference: Poster Displays 441
controls and by HPV status. Adherence to Mediterranean Diet
(MD), assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), and
folate intake were calculated using a food frequency ques-
tionnaire. Folate deficiency was estimated taking into account
supplements consumption.
Results
The mean MDS value was 4.2 (median 4; range 0–9): 6% of
women were with high adherence to MD and the prevalence of
inadequate folate intake was 65.4%. MD adherence were not
different among cases and controls. Overall, the younger and
the smokers showed an increased risk of HPV infection
(OR:3.1, 95%CI: 2.1–4.6; OR: 2.1, 95%CI: 1.4–3.1, respec-
tively) and of CIN (OR:2.3, 95%CI:1.5–3.4; OR:1.5, 95%CI:
1.0–2.2, respectively). Moreover, women with folate deficiency
showed an increased risk of HPV infection (OR:1.5, 95%CI:
1.0–2.2). Regression analysis, adjusting for the main con-
founders, confirmed that the younger and the smokers showed
an increased risk of HPV infection (OR:2.9, 95%CI:2.0–4.3;
OR:1.8, 95%CI:1.2–2.8, respectively). Among the 233 HR-
HPV positive women, in the younger and in the smokers,
women with folate deficiency had an increased risk of CIN
(OR:3.4, 95%CI:1.1–10.6; OR:3.5, 95%CI:1.2–10.1, respec-
tively). Notably, regression analysis confirmed that folate
deficiency was associated with an increased risk of CIN
(OR:2.3, 95%CI: 1.1–5.0).
Conclusions
Findings of this study highlight that folate intake could prevent
HPV infections and CIN, especially in younger and in smokers.
This work was conducted with the research support of Bench
Srl, University of Catania.
Key messages
Folate deficiency was associated with an increased risk of
CIN
Adequate folate intake is an important approach for cervical
cancer prevention
442 European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 25, Supplement 3, 2015
