Antioxidant vitamin status and carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly


Gale, Catharine R., Ashurst, Hazel E., Powers, Hilary J. and Martyn, Christopher N. (2001) Antioxidant vitamin status and carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 74, (3), 402-408.

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Description/Abstract

Background: The oxidative modification of LDL is thought to play a crucial role in the initiation of atherosclerosis. Antioxidant vitamins can protect LDL from oxidation, and high intakes or blood concentrations of these vitamins have been linked with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Few data are available on the importance of antioxidant vitamins in earlier stages of atherogenesis.

Objective: We investigated the cross-sectional relation between antioxidant vitamin status and carotid atherosclerosis in a group of elderly persons.

Design: The study sample comprised 468 men and women aged 66–75 y living in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Duplex ultrasonography was used to measure intima-media thickness and the degree of stenosis in the extracranial carotid arteries. Antioxidant vitamin status was assessed by measuring fasting plasma concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E, and ß-carotene.

Results: In the men, after adjustment for age and cardiovascular disease risk factors, a 20% higher plasma vitamin C concentration was associated with a 0.004-mm smaller intima-media thickness; a 20% higher ß-carotene concentration was associated with a 0.005-mm smaller intima-media thickness. Compared with men with high blood concentrations of ß-carotene or cholesterol-adjusted vitamin E, those with low blood concentrations of these vitamins were 2.5 times as likely to have carotid stenosis of >30%. We found no significant trends between plasma concentrations of antioxidant vitamins and either measure of carotid atherosclerosis in the women.

Conclusion: A high antioxidant vitamin status may help to prevent the initiation and progression of early atherosclerotic lesions in men.

Item Type: Article
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Keywords: carotid artery disease, atherosclerosis, dietary antioxidants, vitamin c, vitamin e, ß-carotene, elderly, low-density lipoprotein, ldl, oxidation
Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions: University Structure - Pre August 2011 > School of Medicine > Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
Item ID: 25511
Date Deposited: 19 Apr 2006
Last Modified: 01 Jun 2011 13:53
Contributors: Gale, Catharine R. (Author)
Ashurst, Hazel E. (Author)
Powers, Hilary J. (Author)
Martyn, Christopher N. (Author)
Date: 2001
Status: Published
Contact Email Address: crg@mrc.soton.ac.uk
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/25511

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