[Precancerous conditions and carcinomas of the stomach and colorectum--blood levels of selected micronutrients].

BACKGROUND: Optimal saturation of organism by micronutrients--vitamins and trace elements--has a significant inhibitory effect on the origin and development of malign diseases. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the blood levels of A, C and E vitamins, Beta-carotene, zinc, and selenium in 249 patients with precanceroses (atrophic gastritis, hyperplastic polyp of the stomach, adenomas of the stomach and colorectum, ulcerative colitis), 96 patients with carcinoma of the stomach or colorectum, and to compare them with a control group of 130 people. RESULTS: We have discovered the frequency of decreased average levels of micronutrients in patients with precanceroses as follows: vitamin C > vitamins E and A > selenium > beta carotene. In all groups of patients with carcinoma the average levels of vitamins and Beta-carotene were significantly decreased, the level of selenium has decreased only in the group of gastric carcinoma. The copper level was increased in the group of ulcerative colitis and in all groups with carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that in the primary prevention of these malign diseases it is necessary to improve the levels of the presented micronutrients in the population of the Slovak Republic by increasing the intake of fruit, vegetables and other sources of nutrition, the secondary prevention in persons with precanceroses requires an appropriate intermittent supplementation of micronutrients (chemoprevention). (Tab. 3, Ref. 24.)