Antioxidant vitamin status and carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly.
BACKGROUND
The oxidative modification of LDL is thought to play a crucial role in the initiation of atherosclerosis. Antioxidant vitamins can protect LDL from oxidation, and high intakes or blood concentrations of these vitamins have been linked with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Few data are available on the importance of antioxidant vitamins in earlier stages of atherogenesis.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the cross-sectional relation between antioxidant vitamin status and carotid atherosclerosis in a group of elderly persons.


METHODS
The study sample comprised 468 men and women aged 66-75 y living in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Duplex ultrasonography was used to measure intima-media thickness and the degree of stenosis in the extracranial carotid arteries. Antioxidant vitamin status was assessed by measuring fasting plasma concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene.


RESULTS
In the men, after adjustment for age and cardiovascular disease risk factors, a 20% higher plasma vitamin C concentration was associated with a 0.004-mm smaller intima-media thickness; a 20% higher beta-carotene concentration was associated with a 0.005-mm smaller intima-media thickness. Compared with men with high blood concentrations of beta-carotene or cholesterol-adjusted vitamin E, those with low blood concentrations of these vitamins were 2.5 times as likely to have carotid stenosis of >30%. We found no significant trends between plasma concentrations of antioxidant vitamins and either measure of carotid atherosclerosis in the women.


CONCLUSIONS
A high antioxidant vitamin status may help to prevent the initiation and progression of early atherosclerotic lesions in men.
Gale
C R
CR
MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom. crg@mrc.soton.ac.uk
Ashurst
H E
HE
Powers
H J
HJ
Martyn
C N
CN
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid