Six-year supplementation with alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene and age-related maculopathy.
OBJECTIVE
Animal research and observational studies in man suggest a protective effect of antioxidant vitamins in the development of age-related maculopathy (ARM).


METHODS
The ATBC study, a population-based, controlled clinical trial of alpha-tocopherol and beta carotene to prevent lung cancer, took place in Finland between 1984 and 1993. Over 29,000 smoking males aged 50 to 69 years were randomly assigned to alpha-tocopherol (AT; 50 mg/day), beta-carotene (BC; 20 mg/day), both of these, or placebo. We performed an end-of-trial ophthalmological examination on a random sample of 941 participants aged 65 years or more from two of the fourteen study areas, to discover if the five to eight-year intervention with alpha-tocopherol and/or beta-carotene had been associated with a difference in ARM prevalence. Age-related maculopathy was assessed using colour photographs of the macula.


RESULTS
Altogether, 269 cases of ARM were found; there were more cases in the AT group (32%; 75/237), BC group (29%; 68/234), and combined antioxidant group (28%; 73/257) than in the placebo group (25%; 53/213). However, neither substance was significantly associated with the risk of ARM in a logistic regression analysis controlling for possible risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
No beneficial effect of long-term supplementation with alpha-tocopherol or beta-carotene on the occurrence of ARM was detected among smoking males.
Teikari
J M
JM
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland. teikari@pp.kolumbus.fi
Laatikainen
L
L
Virtamo
J
J
Haukka
J
J
Rautalahti
M
M
Liesto
K
K
Albanes
D
D
Taylor
P
P
Heinonen
O P
OP
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D008266:Macula Lutea; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E