Micronutrient intake values and cervical dysplasia and cancer in Hualapai and Apache women

Abstract

This study investigated the hypothesis that Native American women of the Southwest will have lower intakes of vitamins A, C, E, carotenes, and folate since Native American women in this region have a high incidence of cervical cancer. Three data sets of 24-hour recalls were collected from two different Native Americans tribes in Arizona to assess dietary intake. The results were not consistent in demonstrating that the nutrients implicated in cervical cancer are being consumed in inadequate quantities as had been expected. However, diet cannot be eliminated as a possible risk factor. Fruit and vegetable consumption may be related to reduced cervical cancer risk. Not only are fruits and vegetables sources of micronutrients associated with cervical cancer, they also have nonnutritive components that may be anticarcinogenic themselves or work synergistically with the micronutrients to prevent cancer. Therefore, micronutrient intake obtained specifically from fruit and vegetable sources needs to be assessed.