title: Effects of α-tocopherol and β-carotene supplementation on liver cancer incidence and chronic liver disease mortality in the ATBC study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent data suggest the possible benefits of α-tocopherol and β-carotene supplementation on liver cancer and chronic liver disease (CLD), but the long-term trial data are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the efficacy of supplemental 50 mg day(-1) α-tocopherol and 20 mg day(-1) β-carotene on incident liver cancer and CLD mortality in a randomised trial of 29,105 Finnish male smokers, who received supplementation for 5-8 years and were followed for 16 additional years for outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Supplemental α-tocopherol, β-carotene, or both, relative to placebo, did not reduce the risk of liver cancer or CLD, either overall, during the intervention or during the post-intervention period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term supplemental α-tocopherol or β-carotene had no effect on liver cancer or CLD mortality over 24 years of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: 1] Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rm. 2W136, MSC 9712, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA [2] Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: G Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.affiliation: Genetic Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Hormonal and Reproductive Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: McGlynn
authors.affiliation: Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, National Institute for Health and Welfare, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Virtamo
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Gail
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albanes
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Freedman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol