Retinal vascular changes following supplementation with alpha-tocopherol or beta-carotene.
OBJECTIVE
To examine if long-term supplementation with alpha-tocopherol (AT) or beta-carotene (BC) was associated with the prevalence of vascular changes in retinal arterioles.


METHODS
An end-of-trial subsample from a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to study the effects of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene on lung cancer incidence (ATBC Study).


METHODS
Source population of Helsinki and the surrounding province.


METHODS
1072 men 50-69 years old and smoking at least 5 cigarettes per day at study entry.


METHODS
Random allocation to one of four supplementation regimens: 50 mg per day alpha-tocopherol, 20 mg per day beta-carotene, both alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene, or placebo. Median follow-up time was 6.6 years (range 5.2-8.0 years).


METHODS
Presence of vascular changes in retinal arterioles as determined from end-of-trial retinal color photographs.


RESULTS
Retinal vascular changes were most prevalent in the AT (161 men, 62%), and in the BC (163 men, 62%) groups. The prevalence rate was lowest in the AT plus BC group (161 men, 55%), and slightly higher in the placebo group (145 men, 57%). There was no statistically significant association of either AT (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.7-1.2) or BC (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.8-1.3) supplementation with the prevalence of retinal vascular changes after adjusting for major risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation with alpha-tocopherol or beta-carotene for a median of 6.6 years does not protect against retinal vascular changes among smoking males.
Teikari
J M
JM
University of Helsinki, Department of Public Health, Finland.
Laatikainen
L
L
Rapola
J M
JM
Virtamo
J
J
Haukka
J
J
Liesto
K
K
Taylor
P
P
Heinonen
O P
OP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001160:Arterioles / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E