Dietary and circulating antioxidant vitamins in relation to carotid plaques in middle-aged women.

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Am J Clin Nutr 2002 Sep;76(3):582-7

 

Dietary and circulating antioxidant vitamins in relation to carotid plaques

in middle-aged women.

Iannuzzi A, Celentano E, Panico S, Galasso R, Covetti G, Sacchetti L,

Zarrilli F, De Michele M, Rubba P.

Dietology Unit, A Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy.

BACKGROUND: The results of the few studies conducted on the relation between

antioxidant vitamins and carotid atherosclerosis have been inconclusive.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the association between preclinical carotid

atherosclerosis, as determined by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound, and

both the intake amounts and plasma concentrations of antioxidant vitamins.

DESIGN: Among 5062 participants in Progetto Atena, a population-based study

on the etiology of cardiovascular disease and cancer in women, 310 women

were examined by B-mode ultrasound to detect early signs of carotid

atherosclerosis. The participants answered a food-frequency questionnaire,

and their plasma concentrations of vitamin E, vitamin A, and carotenoids

were measured. None of the women took vitamin supplements. RESULTS: The

occurrence of atherosclerotic plaques at the carotid bifurcation was

inversely associated with tertiles of vitamin E intake; the test for a

linear trend across tertiles was significant (P < 0.05). Similarly, the

ratio of plasma vitamin E to plasma cholesterol was inversely related to the

presence of plaques at the carotid bifurcation; the test for a linear trend

across tertiles was significant (P < 0.02). No association was found between

the intake of other antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A and C and carotenoids)

or their plasma concentrations and the presence of carotid plaques.

CONCLUSIONS: An inverse association was found between both the intake amount

and plasma concentration of vitamin E and preclinical carotid

atherosclerosis in middle-aged women. This association was independent of

other cardiovascular risk factors, was not related to vitamin supplements,

and supports the hypothesis that low vitamin E intake is a risk factor for

early atherosclerosis.

PMID: 12198003 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]