Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 48 10 2019 10 05 1838 1846 Ehsan GHAEDI Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Fatemeh RAHROVANI Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Hassan JAVANBAKHT Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Amir-Hooshang EHSANI Department of Dermatology, Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ali ESRAFILI Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hamed MOHAMMADI Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran AND Students’ Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Mahnaz ZAREI Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mahmoud DJALALI Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2019 10 05 Background: Nonmelanoma skin cancers are the most frequently occurring skin cancers. Vitamin A is involved in epithelial cell differentiation and may control skin tumor development. Vitamin E is a powerful lipophilic antioxidant that can quench and scavenge reactive oxygen species. However, there is little consistent evidence considering micronutrients and the development of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the possible difference between retinol and α-tocopherol in BCC patients and controls in Iranian population. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on adults with newly diagnosed BCC referred to Razi Hospital, Tehran, Iran in 2015. Serum and subcutaneous fat tissue retinol and α-tochopherol were measured by HPLC method. Results: Overall, serum retinol level was lower significantly in BCC patients (0.237±0.01 µg/ml) in comparison with control group (0.27±0.02 µg/ml, P-value: 0.038). However serum ɑ-tocopherol level was not significantly different between BCC patients (4.41±0.33 µg/ml) and control subjects (4.06±0.35 µg/ml, P-value=0.18). Subcutaneous adipose tissue retinol was lower significantly in BCC patients (38.60±3.30 ng/mg) compared with control group (54.78±3.49 ng/mg, P-value=0.002). Furthermore, results revealed lower subcutaneous adipose tissue ɑ-tocopherol in BCC patients (4.41±0.33 µg/ml) in comparison with control group (4.06±0.35 µg/ml, P-value=0.18). Conclusion: Skin tissue concentration of retinol and ɑ-tocopherol and serum retinol level was lower in BCC patients in comparison with control group but serum ɑ-tocopherol was not different between groups. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/18542 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/18542/6536