New analysis of a cohort from the Lipid Research Clinics Coronary Primary Prevention Trial and follow-up study.
To examine the relationship between total serum carotenoid levels and the risk of subsequent coronary heart disease events.
Higher serum carotenoid levels were associated with a decreased risk of incidence of coronary heart disease. This finding was stronger among men who never smoked.
To assess the relationship between plasma levels of carotenoids (α- and β-carotene, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin), vitamins A and E, and atherosclerosis in the carotid and femoral arteries.
α- and β-carotene plasma levels were inversely associated with the prevalence of atherosclerosis in the carotid and femoral arteries () and with the 5-year incidence of atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid arteries ().
Observational study (study cohort consisted of 26 593 male smokers, aged 50 to 69 years, without a history of stroke, during a 6.1-year followup).
Association between dietary antioxidants and subtypes of stroke
The dietary intake of β-carotene was inversely associated with the risk for cerebral infarction, lutein plus zeaxanthin with risk for subarachnoid hemorrhage, and lycopene with risks of cerebral infarction and intracerebral hemorrhage.
Meta-analysis (seven randomised trials of vitamin E treatment and eight of β-carotene one).
To assess the effect of α-tocopherol (vitamin E), β-carotene, or both on long-term cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.
Vitamin E did not provide benefit in mortality or significantly decrease risk of cardiovascular death or cerebrovascular accident (p:ns). β-carotene led to a small but significant increase in all-cause mortality () and cardiovascular death ().
A case-control study (760 patients with nonfatal AMI and 682 controls patients)
The intake of selected carotenoids and retinol and risk of AMI.
The risk of AMI decreased with increasing intake of α-carotene (OR = 0.71, 95%, CI 0.51–0.98, for the highest versus the lowest quartile of intake), β-carotene (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.50–1.01), and β-cryptoxanthin (OR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.46–0.88). No associations emerged for total carotenoids, lycopene, lutein plus zeaxanthin, and retinol.
Review (The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, the Science Citation Index Expanded, and Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Science to February 2011).
To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in adults.
Results show no evidence to support antioxidant supplements for primary or secondary prevention. β-carotene and vitamin E seem to increase mortality and so may higher doses of vitamin A.