Abnormal Pap Smear

Large amounts of folic acid—10 mg per day—have been shown to improve the abnormal Pap smears of women who are taking birth control pills.¹ Folic acid does not improve the Pap smears of women who are not taking oral contraceptives.^2,3 High blood levels of folate (the food form of folic acid) have been linked to protection against the development of cervical dysplasia but these higher levels may only be a marker for eating more fruit and vegetables.^4,5

In a preliminary study, women with cervical dysplasia were randomly assigned to receive either 200 mg per day of EGCG—a green tea extract known as (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate—200 mg per day of poly E (another green tea extract), or no treatment (control group) for 8 to 12 weeks. More than 50% of the women receiving EGCG or poly E had an improvement in their Pap smear, compared with only 10% of the women in the control group.⁶

Several other herbs have been used as part of an approach for women with mild cervical dysplasia, including myrrh, echinacea, usnea, goldenseal, marshmallow, and yarrow.⁷ These herbs are used for their antiviral actions as well as to stimulate tissue healing; they are generally administered in a suppository preparation. No clinical trials have proven their effectiveness in treating cervical dysplasia. A doctor should be consulted to discuss the use and availability of these herbs.

Low levels of selenium⁸ and low dietary intake of vitamin C^9,10 have been observed in women with cervical dysplasia.

Women with a low intake of vitamin A have an increased risk of cervical dysplasia.¹¹ However, there is little research on the use of vitamin A as a treatment for cervical dysplasia.

Women with cervical dysplasia may have lower blood levels of beta-carotene and vitamin E^12,13 compared to healthy women.