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Patients and Methods: A case-control study was carried out among women attending the gynecology clinic for cervical cytology screening.

At the follow-up clinic visit:

Data from cases and controls were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the relative odds of abnormal cytology with increasing vitamin B12 levels.

Results: There were no significant differences between cases and controls in demographic characteristics and mean folate levels (p > 0.05).

The mean vitamin B12 level of [abnormal] cases was significantly lower than that of controls (p < 0.001). Dichotomized logistic regression analyses of vitamin B12 levels were significantly different (p < 0.001). The predicted percentages at a cut-off value of 0.5 were as follows: sensitivity 70.0%, specificity 74.6%, positive predictive value 71.8% and negative predictive value 72.6%. The logistic regression analysis of the 1st and the 4th quartiles of vitamin B12 levels showed a significant difference p < 0.001, OR: 1.525 (CI, 1.175-1.875).

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that lower vitamin B12 levels are associated with abnormal cervical cytology. It is recommended that women should consume not only folate-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables but also vitamin B12-rich foods such as meat, fish, milk products and eggs in a balanced way.

Source: European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology. 2007;28(6):526-30. PMID: 18179156, by Yuksel H, Odabasi AR, Cetin G, Eben M, Nergiz S, Onur E. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey.