The relationship of serum cholesterol and vitamin A in hospitalized patients with and without cancer

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Abstract
Interrelationships among circulating levels of cholesterol, vitamin A, and selected transport proteins, as well as other nutritional variables were examined in a large population of hospitalized cancer (CA, n = 94) and noncancer (NONCA, n = 432) patients in order to help clarify a relationship between serum cholesterol and vitamin A. Serum cholesterol and vitamin A levels were positively correlated (r = 0.39; p < 0.001) in both CA and NONCA groups. One hypothesis that might explain such a relationship was investigated. Results suggest that serum-transport protein levels and nutritional status are important factors that lead to a correlation between serum cholesterol and vitamin A by virtue of their mutual associations with both substances. Results suggest also that NONCA patients may have a more complex relationship of variates to serum-vitamin A levels than CA patients and that low levels of both cholesterol and vitamin A in CA patients may be related more to nutritional status than to the presence of cancer.