Association of Diet Quality and Dietary Components with Clinical Resolution of HPV

Abstract

Nutrient deficits have been repeatedly linked to cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence, cervical neoplasia, and cervical cancer in case-control studies. This study sought to examine the relationship between overall diet quality and dietary components with the spontaneous resolution of cervical HPV over one year. A prospective observational cohort study was performed. Women with low-grade cervical cytology and/or positive HPV test completed a 24-hour dietary recall, from which the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010, a score of overall diet quality, and scores in dietary categories were calculated. Participants were managed clinically according to national management guidelines. Those whose subsequent testing demonstrated normalization of cytology and/or HPV testing (“HPV resolution”) were compared to those whose abnormalities persisted or progressed (“HPV non-resolution”). Twenty-six women were included in the HPV resolution group and 38 in the non-resolution group. They were observed for a median of 428 and 412 day, respectively (p = 0.09). There was no difference in overall diet quality between the groups. Intake of total and whole fruit, and seafood/plant protein were associated with HPV resolution in a logistic regression model (all p < 0.05). These findings could have important implications for the counseling and management of individuals with HPV infection of the cervix.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Mr. Kenneth Swan of the Tulane University Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology for the processing and preparation of serum nutrient serum samples for analysis. Thank you to Dr. Marisa Berger and Dr. Maya Gross for their tireless efforts in medical record extraction and database management.

Additional information

Funding

Supported in part by U54 GM104940 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, which funds the Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center (LA CaTS). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.