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Serum Uric Acid Levels in Oral Cancer Patients Seen at Tertiary Institution in Nigeria
Abstract
Introduction: Toxicity by oxygen radicals has been considered as an important cause of cancer. It is proposed that the antioxidant properties of uric acid may act to prevent formation of oxygen radicals and thereby protect against carcinogenesis. This study aims to assess the role of uric
acid in the aetiology of oral cancer.
Materials and Methods: Thirty one oral cancer patients and thirty normal patients had serum uric acid measured using spectophotometer. The data obtained was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 19.0 (SPSS19). Statistical significance was determined at P < 0.05. Results: The mean serum uric acid level in oral cancer patients
was 5.18 mg/dl (SD±1.96) while the mean was 7.09 mg/dl (SD±1.84) for the control group and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.000, t= -3.914, C.I. = - 2.885 to - 0.933). The risk of oral cancer was 3.98 times more in patients who had low serum uric acid.
Conclusion: This study showed that serum uric acid was lower in oral cancer patients compared with healthy volunteers and low serum uric acid was associated with increased risk of oral cancer development. However, further prospective cohort studies are suggested to better understand the role of serum uric acid in aetiology of oral cancer.
acid in the aetiology of oral cancer.
Materials and Methods: Thirty one oral cancer patients and thirty normal patients had serum uric acid measured using spectophotometer. The data obtained was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 19.0 (SPSS19). Statistical significance was determined at P < 0.05. Results: The mean serum uric acid level in oral cancer patients
was 5.18 mg/dl (SD±1.96) while the mean was 7.09 mg/dl (SD±1.84) for the control group and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.000, t= -3.914, C.I. = - 2.885 to - 0.933). The risk of oral cancer was 3.98 times more in patients who had low serum uric acid.
Conclusion: This study showed that serum uric acid was lower in oral cancer patients compared with healthy volunteers and low serum uric acid was associated with increased risk of oral cancer development. However, further prospective cohort studies are suggested to better understand the role of serum uric acid in aetiology of oral cancer.
