RETINOL DIETARY-INTAKE AND ORAL LEUKOPLAKIA DEVELOPMENT

To investigate the clinical outcome of unbalanced diet in patients wit h oral precancerosis and to assess a possible relationship between die tary factors and the development of oral leukoplakia, a case- control study was carried out within a cohort of 53 subjects treated at our Ce ntre in October-November 1997. Enrolled subjects and suitable controls underwent a careful interview on their own alimentary habits with a p articular interest in retinol and carotenoids major sources. An indivi dual qualitative and quantitative assessment of retinol-equivalents di etary intake, yelding average values for each group, allowed to compar e the cohorts and to relate data also to tobacco use and to the severi ty of histopathological findings. Case levels were always significantl y lower than controls (P<0.001), disregarding smoking, whilst no diffe rence resulted between smokers-and non smokers within the same groups. No statistical influence seemed to Link alimentary vitamin A to the d evelopment of oral dysplasia but this work strengthen the epidemiologi cal opinion that specific dietary factors are of great importance in o ral oncology.