title: Intake of vitamin E, vitamin C, and carotenoids and the risk of Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis.
abstract: We studied the effect of vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene intake on the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies published between 1966 and March 2005 searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Eight studies were identified (six case-control, one cohort, and one cross-sectional). We found that dietary intake of vitamin E protects against PD. This protective influence was seen with both moderate intake (relative risk 0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.98) and high intake (0.78, 0.57-1.06) of vitamin E, although the possible benefit associated with high intake of vitamin E was not significant. The studies did not suggest any protective effects associated with vitamin C or beta carotene. We conclude that dietary vitamin E may have a neuroprotective effect attenuating the risk of PD. These results require confirmation in randomised controlled trials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Royal Victoria Hospital and McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. metminan@shaw.ca <metminan@shaw.ca>
authors.forename: Mahyar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Etminan
authors.forename: Sudeep S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samii
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid