The Relationship between the Serum Level of Selenium and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia: A Comparative Study in a Population of Nigerian Women

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.

2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationship between the serum level of selenium and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
(CIN). Methods: A case controlled study that compared the serum level of selenium in 45 women with CIN (cases) to
45 women (age matched controls) with normal cervical cytology. Socio-demographic data and information on known
risk factors for cervical cancer among the sample was compared between both groups using inferential statistics.
Results: There was no significant difference in the mean selenium values between the cases and controls [p- 0.076,
95% CI (-15.08 – 0.76)]. However, subgroup analysis showed a statistically significant difference between patients
with normal cervical cytology, CIN I, II and III (p= 0.021). In addition, there was also significant difference in the
selenium level between women with normal cervical cytology and CIN III (p value = 0.016) with a significant inverse
linear trend (p= 0.025). Conclusion: With increasing severity of CIN, a significant reduction in the level of selenium
in serum was observed. This reducing value of serum selenium, a surrogate marker for increased oxidative stress, may
be important factor for the development of persistent HPV infection and in particular high grade CIN III lesions. This
observation requires further research.

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