Effect of supplementation with antioxidants upon long-term risk of hypertension in the SU.VI.MAX study: association with plasma antioxidant levels.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of supplementation with a combination of antioxidant vitamins and trace elements, at nutritional doses, upon the 6.5-year risk of hypertension in the SU.VI.MAX trial. To describe the association between baseline plasma antioxidant levels and the same long-term risk using observational data from the study.


METHODS
A total of 5086 adults from the SU.VI.MAX trial, a randomized primary prevention trial.


RESULTS
Compared with the placebo group, no effect of supplementation upon the 6.5-year risk of hypertension could be detected (odds ratio, 1.04 and 95% confidence interval, 0.87-1.23 in men; and odds ratio, 1.10 and 95% confidence interval, 0.95-1.29 in women). Furthermore, compared with men in the first tertile, those in the second and third tertiles of serum baseline levels of beta-carotene presented a lower risk of hypertension in both the placebo and supplementation groups. Multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were 0.70 (0.44-1.12) and 0.53 (0.33-0.86) in the placebo group, and were 0.59 (0.37-0.94) and 0.67 (0.42-1.07) in the supplementation group. In women, a decreasing trend was observed with vitamin C levels and risk of hypertension in the intervention group. No association could be shown between vitamin E and trace element plasma levels and the risk of hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite an inverse association between baseline plasma levels of beta-carotene in men and the risk of developing hypertension, we could not demonstrate any beneficial effect of low-dose antioxidant supplementation upon the 6.5-year risk of hypertension in the randomized analysis.
Czernichow
Sébastien
S
Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, French Institute of Health and Medical Research, UMR (INSERM/INRA/CNAM), Paris, France. sebastien.czernichow@htd.aphp.fr
Bertrais
Sandrine
S
Blacher
Jacques
J
Galan
Pilar
P
Briançon
Serge
S
Favier
Alain
A
Safar
Michel
M
Hercberg
Serge
S
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins