title: Vitamin C consumption is associated with less progression in carotid intima media thickness in elderly men: A 3-year intervention study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Plant foods may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We assessed changes in the intima media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery and diet in elderly men. Men (n=563) aged 70+/-5 years were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups (dietary intervention, omega-3 supplementation, both or neither) using a 2 x 2 factorial design. B-mode ultrasound of the carotid arteries and calculation of dietary intake were performed at baseline and after 3 years. We previously showed that omega-3 supplementation did not influence the IMT, thus the dietary intervention (n=233) and no dietary intervention (n=231) groups were pooled. The dietary intervention group had less progression in the carotid IMT compared with the controls (0.044+/-0.091 mm versus 0.062+/-0.105 mm; P=0.047). This group increased their daily vitamin C intake (P=0.005) and intake of fruit, berries and vegetables (P<or=0.001). Increased intake of vitamin C and of fruit and berries was inversely associated with IMT progression (r=-0.181; P=0.006 and r=-0.125; P=0.056, respectively). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that increased intakes of vitamin C and of fruit and berries were associated with less IMT progression in the intervention group and in the total study population, after adjustment for consumption of dietary cholesterol, cheese, saturated fat and group assignment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin C containing foods may protect against the progression of carotid atherosclerosis in elderly men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Cardiology, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. ingrid.ellingsen@uus.no
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ellingsen
authors.forename: Ingebjørg
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Seljeflot
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arnesen
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tonstad
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid