Beta-carotene supplementation for patients with low baseline levels and decreased risks of total and prostate carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The Physicians' Health Study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial using a 2x2 factorial design including supplementation with beta-carotene (50 mg every other day) in the primary prevention of cancer among 22,071 U.S. male physicians ages 40-84 years at randomization. Before randomization, the authors collected baseline blood specimens to determine whether any benefit was greater among or confined to those with low baseline levels of beta-carotene.


METHODS
Baseline blood samples were collected from 14,916 participants. These samples were assayed, according to a nested case-control design, from 1439 men subsequently diagnosed with cancer over 12 years of follow-up (631 with prostate carcinoma) and 2204 controls matched by age and smoking habits.


RESULTS
Men in the lowest quartile for plasma beta-carotene at baseline had a marginally significant (P = 0.07) increased risk of cancer compared with those in the highest quartile (relative risk [RR] = 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98-1.74). Men in the lowest quartile assigned at random to beta-carotene supplementation had a possible but nonsignificant decrease in overall cancer risk (RR = 0.83, 95% CI, 0.63-1.09) compared with those assigned to placebo. This was primarily due to a significant reduction in the risk of prostate carcinoma (RR = 0.68, 95% CI, 0. 46-0.99) in this group. After the first 2 years of follow-up were excluded, the results were virtually unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
These prespecified subgroup analyses appeared to support the idea that beta-carotene supplementation may reduce risk of prostate carcinoma among those with low baseline levels. Further follow-up of this population will help determine whether these findings are valid.
Cook
N R
NR
Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Stampfer
M J
MJ
Ma
J
J
Manson
J E
JE
Sacks
F M
FM
Buring
J E
JE
Hennekens
C H
CH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D019207:beta Carotene