Is There any Alteration in Erythrocyte Folate Status in Patients with Thyroid and Breast Cancers?

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine folate reserve in patients with thyroid and breast diseases. Erythrocyte folate concentrations of ninety-eight patients and thirty healthy subjects were determined by a modified microbiological assay. An increase in folate levels was observed in of both thyroid (n = 15) and breast (n = 22) cancer patients compared to controls, while a decrease was observed in benign breast disease patients (n = 24) compared to both control group and breast cancer patients. Patients with benign thyroid diseases (n = 37) had significantly lower folate concentrations as compared to both control and thyroid cancer groups. The results pointed out the elevated erythrocyte folate levels in the patients with malignant tumors.

Keywords

• folate
• erythrocyte
• breast cancer
• thyroid cancer