Serum vitamin E level in patients with breast cancer

In this study, the serum vitamin E (total tocopherol) levels in patients with breast cancer (n = 100) and healthy controls (n = 70) were measured. The mean values for vitamin E were found to be 0.44 mg/100 ml in breast cancer patients and 1.108 mg/100 ml in controls. In the statistical evaluation, the vitamin E levels in breast cancer patients are significantly lower than in the controls (P < 0.05). The influence of factors such as suckling period, age of first gestation, smoking status and dietary habits were also studied.