Improvement in bronchial squamous metaplasia in smokers treated with folate and vitamin B/sub 12/: report of a preliminary randomized, double-blind intervention trial

Journal Article · Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 EST 1988 · JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.259.10.1525· OSTI ID:5231223

Heimburger, D C; Alexander, C B; Birch, R; Butterworth, Jr, C E; Bailey, W C; Krumdieck, C L

To test whether changes in folate and vitamin B/sub 12/ nutrition modify the severity of potentially premalignant lesions identified by cytology in sputum samples of smokers, the authors conducted a randomized, controlled prospective intervention trial in smokers with bronchial squamous metaplasia. Seventy-three men with a history of 20 or more pack-years of cigarette smoking who had metaplasia on one or more sputum samples were stratified according to smoking level and randomly assigned to four months' treatment with either placebo or 10 mg of folate plus 500 ..mu..g of hydroxocobalamin. Direct cytological comparison of the two groups after four months showed significantly greater reduction of atypia in the supplemented group. This provides preliminary evidence that atypical bronchial squamous metaplasia may be reduced by supplementation with folate and vitamin B/sub 12/. However, the significance of these findings is tempered by substantial spontaneous variation in sputum cytologies, the small study population, the short duration of the trial, and the supraphysiological doses of folate and B/sub 12/ used. The results should not be construed as pointing to a potential way of preventing lung cancer in individuals who continue to smoke or as supporting self-medication with large doses of folate or B/sub 12/ by smokers.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Alabama, Birmingham (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5231223
• Journal Information: JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States), Vol. 259:10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
FOLIC ACID
BIOCHEMISTRY
TOBACCO SMOKES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
VITAMIN B-12
BRONCHI
CYTOLOGY
EPITHELIUM
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
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HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PTERIDINES
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SMOKES
SOLS
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