beta-carotene and Mouth-Diseases

To assess the effect of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene supplementation on the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in smokers.. An end-point examination of a random sample of participants in a controlled trial for 5-7 years (Alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study) in Helsinki, Finland.. A total of 409 white male cigarette smokers, aged 55-74 years who received either alpha-tocopherol (50 mg per day) or beta-carotene (20 mg per day) supplementation, both of these or placebo capsules.. Clinical examination of oral mucosae, histological examination of lesions showing leukoplakia and cytological examination of buccal epithelium. Statistical analysis using Fisher's exact test.. No statistically significant differences were found between the study groups either in the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions or in the cells of unkeratinized epithelium. Leukoplakia was present in 24 (5.9%) of the subjects. Seven lesions showed dysplasia.. The present study on oral health does not support the hypothesis that alpha-tocopherol or beta-carotene supplementation plays an essential role in preventing oral mucosal changes in smokers.

Topics: Aged; beta Carotene; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Leukoplakia, Oral; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Smoking; Vitamin E

This study was designed to test the effect of supplementation of several antioxidants, including alpha-tocopherol, on the clinical reduction of premalignant oral lesions. Samples of oral mucosa and serum were taken from baseline to 9 months of supplementation from patients with premalignant oral lesions and analyzed for alpha-tocopherol by HPLC. Statistical increases in both serum and tissue alpha-tocopherol were found after supplementation. There was no statistical relationship between alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene levels.

Topics: beta Carotene; Female; Humans; Male; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Precancerous Conditions; Sex Factors; Treatment Outcome

Mucosal dysplasia in the head and neck region is recognized to be a precancerous lesion. Between January 1983 and December 1987, a pilot study was conducted at the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation to determine the effects of beta-carotene and cis-retinoic acid on mucosal dysplasias. Eighteen patients were treated with a "cross-over" regimen. The overall response to treatment was 61%, with 33.3% complete responses. Patients who smoked had a significantly better response than nonsmokers. The response rate for 9 of 11 smokers was 81.2%, and 2 of 7 nonsmokers or 28.6% responded to this protocol. The beneficial effect of these drugs should be established by prospective, randomized trial in high risk populations.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Drug Evaluation; Erythroplasia; Female; Humans; Leukoplakia, Oral; Lichen Planus; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Pilot Projects; Precancerous Conditions; Prospective Studies; Smoking; Tretinoin; Vitamin A

Interest in beta-carotene (BC) has increased as studies show that low dietary or serum BC is associated with increased risk of cancer. Patients with oral epithelial dysplasia had serum and oral mucosa punch biopsy samples taken before supplementation of 30 mg/day of beta-carotene and after 6 and 9 months of supplementation. BC was analyzed for 28 patients by high-performance liquid chromatography. At baseline, serum BC and gender accounted for 48% of tissue BC variance: Tissue BC = -0.13 + 0.08(Serum BC) + 1.21(Sex) with sex as male = 0 or female = 1. Following supplementation, serum BC had an exponential relationship to tissue BC which accounted for 52% of tissue variance: Tissue BC = 1.15 + 5.7 x 10(-5)(Serum BC)2 + 3.91(Sex). Women had higher mean concentrations of serum and oral mucosal BC before and during supplementation. The need for oral mucosal sampling may be eliminated by the correlation between serum and tissue BC.

Topics: beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Female; Humans; Male; Models, Theoretical; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Sex Factors

The widespread use of smokeless tobacco (ST) has prompted concern in regard to the development of oral lesions in long-term users.. For inclusion in the current study, a subject must have used an ST product, either snuff or chewing tobacco, for at least 6 months. The subjects were recruited by advertising, and none was referred for the evaluation of an oral lesion. The following were performed on all subjects: assessment of exposure to ST, cigarettes, and alcohol; examination of the oral cavity; a biopsy, if an oral lesion was found; and analysis of a blood sample for beta-carotene. The dietary intake of most of the subjects was analyzed.. Of the 347 ST users, all of whom were white male subjects, 45 (13.0%) had an oral lesion. Thirty-five of the lesions were hyperkeratosis and 10 were epithelial dysplasia.. Snuff exposure was associated significantly with the presence of an oral lesion (P < 0.0001). A decreased vitamin C intake also was found among the ST users with oral lesions (P < 0.01). The ST users with epithelial dysplasia, as compared with those with hyperkeratotic lesions, were slightly older, had a lower intake of vitamin C (P < 0.05), and were more likely to have used chewing tobacco than snuff.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Alcohol Drinking; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Diet; Humans; Male; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Plants, Toxic; Risk Factors; Smoking; Time Factors; Tobacco, Smokeless