title: The effect of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene supplementation on symptoms and progression of intermittent claudication in a controlled trial.
abstract: We evaluated the effect of long-term supplementation with vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and beta-carotene on occurrence of claudication symptoms and risk for peripheral vascular surgery among men with intermittent claudication. Subjects, 50-69-year old male smokers, were participants in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study, who reported intermittent claudication through a structured questionnaire (Rose) at study entry (n=1484). They were randomly assigned to receive either 50 mg/day of alpha-tocopherol, or 20 mg/day of beta-carotene, or both, or placebo, in a 2 x 2 design. During follow-up, claudication was evaluated by repeating use of the questionnaire once a year. Information on peripheral vascular surgery came from the National Hospital Discharge Register. We observed no effect of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene supplementation on claudication during a mean follow-up of 3.7 years. A slightly increased risk (odds ratio (OR) 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-2.44) for vascular surgery was observed among beta-carotene supplemented men compared to those who did not receive beta-carotene. Alpha-tocopherol supplementation had no effect. In conclusion, long-term supplementation with alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene showed no beneficial effect on symptoms and progression of intermittent claudication.
authors.affiliation: ATBC Study, Department of Nutrition, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300, Helsinki, Finland. markareetta.tornwall@ktl.fi
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Törnwall
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Virtamo
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Haukka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albanes
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Huttunen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E